Megan Thee Stallion did it again
Image Courtesy: Instagram
Megan Thee Stallion did it again. She created another iconic song. However, I believe that her song “Cobra” was made for the world not just to see her pain.
I also believe that she made this song specifically for Black women - as a way of letting us know that she sees our pain too.
For those who do not know, “Cobra” is about Meg Thee Stallion sharing some of her mental health journey while navigating a turbulent court trial, an unfaithful partner, mourning the loss of her parents, and other relationship issues.
As a Black woman, I really appreciate her being so vulnerable and raw on this particular track, as it shreds apart the “Superwoman” dynamic that plagues many Black women in our community.
For those who do not know what this dynamic is, it “forces Black women to be serious all the time, “placing a strong focus on being responsible” (for our family and friends) “and accomplished” (in our personal and professional lives), according to Black Enterprise.
Black Enterprise also said that this dynamic is “often exacerbated by the generational trauma passed down to us as Black women, which leads us to believe we have the ability—and the responsibility—to carry the burden of the entire community on our shoulders.”
This is what makes Meg Thee Stallion’s song so much more powerful. Being such a powerful artist, her using her influence and talent to share such intimate details of her mental health journey is to be applauded.
Her new song acknowledges that we can be both “Black Excellence” and burnt out at the same time.
Most importantly, I believe it will give women, especially Black women, the permission to deal with their own mental health struggles without shame.
This is especially important, as experts are saying that mental health symptoms are showing up differently in Black women, which could lead to later diagnoses.
For example, in an interview with ESSENCE, Nadia M. Richardson, Ph.D, founder and CEO of Black Women’s Mental Health Institute, said that when it comes to bipolar disorder, it is often misunderstood, overlooked, or misdiagnosed in Black women - due to being racially characterized and dismissed as stereotypically ‘Black women behavior ’.”
“This looks like labeling Black women as dramatic, irritable, aggressive, emotional, and irrational, even when just speaking up for herself and her well-being. This is one of the contributing factors as to why Black women are statistically diagnosed with bipolar disorder later in life although the average age of diagnosis is 12-25,” she said in ESSENCE.
A study by New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing found that Black women in the study with greater depressive symptoms were more likely to report somatic symptoms, such as fatigue, insomnia, decreased libido, along with self-critical symptoms (e.g. self-hate, self-blame) than stereotypical depression symptoms such as feelings of hopelessness or depressed mood.
They also reported experiencing anhedonia (an inability to experience pleasure) and irritability.
While researchers of the study said that the results cannot be generalized to all Black women, due to their ages and relatively low levels of depression, it shows that symptoms experienced by Black women may not be properly evaluated with the current standard screening tools.
Songs like “Cobra” add layers and context to this important conversation of accurately supporting Black women who may be struggling with their mental health. It lets them know that they are not alone and may encourage them to take the first step to receive the help they desperately need and deserve.
So thank you, Meg Thee Stallion, for just showing us your scars so that we can see that embarking on our own mental health journey is worth fighting for.
If you or your loved ones are struggling with mental health, here are some resources you can access:
Call or Text 988 - Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Trevor Project: 24/7 Suicide Hotline for LGBTQ Youth - We’re here for you Now (thetrevorproject.org)
Strike Out,
Writer: Deidre Montague
Editor: Kaninika Dey
Boston
