SDSU student writes powerful poem aimed at destigmatizing therapy for black men | Information Center

Nick Martin can be sweet, but when he reads the words to his poem “Honesty”, the message comes through loud and clear.

my therapist

Taught me that it’s not failure I fear

But rather the potential for my success.

A black man

Could speak through my firm exterior

And talk to my inner child.

In the 30-line narrative poem, Martin, an economics student at San Diego State University, explains how a visit with a therapist helped him find himself, giving him the strength and release to be himself in the process.

The poem struck a chord with audiences: Soft Quarterly, an arts and culture publication, published the poem in its most recent edition, and he performed the piece at several SDSU receptions, including the reception of the Young Men of Color Alliance in November and Brother to Brother Luncheon in December.

Martin will perform it again at “Let the Poet Speak,” a February 27 spoken word event at the Black Resource Center hosted in conjunction with the San Diego Association of Black Psychologists.

“I feel blessed with the impact the poem has had so far,” Martin said. “I didn’t think it would spark as much dialogue as it has so far, however, I’m happy with it. My main intention is to tell so that people don’t feel alone. The poem serves its purpose and that’s what matters most to me.

Martin, who grew up in Spring Valley and the Encanto neighborhood of San Diego and graduated from Patrick Henry High School, said he started writing poetry when he was 14. He published his words on the powerpoetry.org website.

During his junior and senior years, he was actively involved in the spoken word community and participated in his high school’s talent show.

But poetry was more than something he excelled at. It was his outlet to express his feelings of confusion, sadness, hope and humanity during a tumultuous time in his life.

“I would just like to talk about the struggles I witnessed in high school when it came to my mother’s health and the fact that I was separated from her when I was 15,” Martin said. “It was a confusing time, especially during those teenage years when all we do as people is understand each other for the first time. My intentions, whenever I wrote poems on the subject of mental health, were to relate to people as best I could. People want to feel seen and heard in their day-to-day lives.

We tango in philosophy and call it conversation.

He would ask me who I am and what do I want?

I am still struggling with this question.

As a black man, I feel the need to adapt

EVERY ENVIRONMENT.

Though my dark skin can’t blend into every

environment,

I know how to camouflage my voice and

mannerisms,

For any environment.

The inspiration for “Honesty,” Martin said, came from mental health therapy sessions he had in the spring of 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when mental health and wellness were a major topic of discussion. A National Institute of Health study showed that minorities were disproportionately affected by the mental health side effects of the pandemic.

Martin said he wanted to let his audience, especially black men, know that it was okay to seek help for their mental health.

“I felt it was important to shine a light on a part of the black community that is still stigmatized in certain contexts,” Martin said.

This constant game of charades, left me

I don’t know my own hue.

my therapist

I said to find my own success, I gotta know what

I appreciate.

I told him that honesty matters most.

And it’s been one of the keys to mine

Freedom all the while.

One person who has worked to combat this stigma of therapy within the black community is Ricky J. Popea psychologist from SDSU Psychological and Counseling Services who acts as a facilitator for the Alliance of Young Men of Color.

He asked Martin to recite his poem at the reception in November, during which audience members were moved to tears and heartfelt discussion.

“It touched me to see this work that I have dedicated my life to having such an impact on someone like Nick,” Pope said. “The idea of ​​being a black therapist and helping people like me kept me going. Reading this poem kind of validated my perseverance in getting this degree so I could help young men unleash their potential.

“I will be forever grateful to him for what he wrote in this poem,” Pope said. “It’s moving.”

Martin, a major in economics with a focus on policy and a minor in creative writing, wants to work as a policy analyst.

But until then, and beyond, he wants to keep inspiring people with his words.

In this coming-of-age story, growth is not linear.

In the same way that grass and plants grow down

Sun is the same way I will grow towards my values.

My honesty.

My own freedom.

Without having to adapt to anyone.

“I want my work to accomplish healing, empathy, and using knowledge gained to improve our relationships with others,” Martin said.

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