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Breaking the Silence: Black Veterans Speak Out on PTSD and the Path to Recovery

THE AFRO — “From a clinical standpoint, one of the biggest hurdles for military personnel dealing with PTSD is the pervasive stigma around mental health,” said Dr. Diandra Poe, a mental health professional and veteran advocate. “Even today, mental health challenges are often seen as a sign of weakness in a culture that prioritizes constant performance and endurance.

Published

8 months ago

November 30, 2025

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

For many military veterans, what they endure while serving their country is just half of the battle. The toll of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can appear in every part of life, including strained relationships, halted careers and a fading sense of identity.

For Black veterans, the impact can be even greater and more difficult to get help for due to cultural stigma, racial disparities in care and a shortage of personalized mental health support.

Dr. Diandra Poe is a dedicated mental health professional and veteran advocate committed to breaking stigma and improving access to care. Photo Credit: Courtesy photo

“From a clinical standpoint, one of the biggest hurdles for military personnel dealing with PTSD is the pervasive stigma around mental health,” said Dr. Diandra Poe, a mental health professional and veteran advocate. “Even today, mental health challenges are often seen as a sign of weakness in a culture that prioritizes constant performance and endurance. For many service members, the idea of seeking help is intertwined with fear that it could impact their careers or label them as incapable.”

Untreated mental health conditions such as PTSD can create a serious ripple effect on military individuals and their families.

“Unaddressed PTSD can spill over into home life—affecting relationships, the ability to keep a job and ultimately the family’s stability,” Poe said. “It becomes a cycle of trying to push through alone until it’s no longer possible.”

A national health study by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) found that about 22 percent of Black veterans who were deployed had PTSD, compared to 14.1 percent of White veterans. Around 16 percent of Black veterans who were not deployed had PTSD, compared to 9.2 percent of their White counterparts.

“For Black service members, the military might have been a path out of challenging environments, and facing PTSD can feel like they’ve traded one set of struggles for another,” said Poe. “While they might technically have access to care through the VA or military services, actually utilizing that care can be a unique challenge due to cultural stigma and a lack of culturally competent support.”

James Harris, a U.S. Army veteran and community advocate, saw and lived these disparities, inspiring him to establish Men to Heal to help fill the gap.

“I emancipated myself at 16. Fast forward, I joined the Army for eight years, two deployments, one Iraq, one Afghanistan,” said Harris. “Going to therapy…there was a disconnect.”

James Harris is a U.S. Army veteran and founder of Men to Heal, a movement devoted to helping others overcome trauma through culturally informed mental health care and community support. Photo Credit: Courtesy photo

Harris said from his time in therapy as a child and a veteran, he did not feel like the therapists adequately understand what he went through and therefore could not truly help him.

“Since I had those experiences—in addition to the book knowledge, in addition to the case studies, in addition to the license—I thought I could provide greater assistance to veterans, as well as people who look like me, and who have traveled this road,” said Harris.

Through Men to Heal, a movement he started to offer counseling for veterans, youth, families, and couples, Harris does the work of giving back. Through the movement, Harris operates a wellness center in Richmond, Va., providing financial resources, outpatient therapy, and yoga.

Harris said veterans often come home feeling isolated and unable to be understood by the people in their lives.

“You feel like you’re the only person that’s been through it or don’t have anybody who can relate to your experience besides the people that you deployed with,” Harris said.

To better support veterans upon their return home, especially those diagnosed with PTSD, Harris said families and communities can best help by making sure to include them in various activities.

“Avoidance or isolation is no good, so we want to try to involve them as much as possible,” said Harris. “The family should also understand that veterans are oftentimes on alert or have heightened senses. They’re looking for threats; they want to position themselves so that they can see exits and take care of situations.”

Harris emphasized that having patience is key. Veterans can also benefit from widespread access to culturally informed care and a dismantling of stigmas both in the military and the community around mental health.

Veterans do have options for receiving care.

“If you would feel more comfortable with a provider of the same race, religion, or cultural background, share your preference with VA. When you start seeing a new provider, ask about their experience treating Veterans of color or Veterans with similar religious or cultural backgrounds,” say VA officials, in resources that speak directly to veterans on race, culture, and PTSD.

“Don’t hesitate to bring up issues related to race with your provider. Remember, your conversations with your provider are confidential. If it turns out your provider doesn’t have the experience to meet your needs, or you don’t feel it’s a supportive match, you can ask to switch to someone else.”

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Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park

ATLANTA VOICE — A mural depicting late journalist Jovita Moore, painted on the exterior wall of a building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee in Grant Park, was painted over in April. Moore passed away in 2021 after decades of working in Atlanta television news. Bellwood Coffee owners stated in May they were unaware of Moore’s identity or significance to the community before painting over the mural.
The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

At the corner of Boulevard, SE. and Rosalia St., SE., directly across the street from an abandoned home and a Methodist Church, is Bellwood Coffee. One of hundreds of coffee shops in Atlanta, this place of business would not be worth a solitary discussion if not for the way its exterior walls are currently painted. There was once a mural depicting the late Jovita Moore, a beloved journalist who worked in Atlanta for decades. Moore, who passed away in 2021, mentored many of the people you see on television newscasts today. Though her legacy will never be forgotten, it was the mural of her image that was erased.

In April, members of the Grant Park community voiced their disgust at the mural, which graced a side wall of the building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee’s Grant Park location, before it was painted over. In its place are the words “Bellwood Coffee; Cocktails, Biscuits, Dry Goods, Air Conditioning. *Heat Too”. In May, the business owners responded to the community pushback on social media by acknowledging they did not know who Moore was before painting over her image. And later admitted that they did not attempt to find out what she meant to the community.

On May 21, the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account had a post about being “in close contact with Jovita’s family and are actively working on next steps in this process.” Two months later, the mural has not been replaced, repainted, or repositioned on the property. Nothing has been done. Black history is often erased, most recently by the current Presidential administration, but oftentimes on a smaller, quieter scale. The mural was originally painted by muralist Tommy Bronx, who had been in contact with the business owners about repainting it. As of July 6, Tommy Bronx had responded to a direct message via his Instagram account from The Atlanta Voice about any updates on his plans to repaint the mural.

“We’re currently working on it. You should see some movement in the weeks to come,” he wrote in a response.

On Monday, July 6, the business had several patrons inside and was running smoothly with three employees manning the counter. The Atlanta Voice dropped by Bellwood Coffee to get a look at the exterior wall where the mural once stood as a memorial to a journalist and mother who lost her life to brain cancer at the young age of 54. Moore’s image added some color to the block. The grey wall in its place does not.

A direct message was sent to the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account, and there hasn’t been a response as of 7 p.m. on Monday.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Voice.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD — A New York man faces felony hate crime charges for allegedly posting a threat against New York State Senator Lea Webb. James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a social media news post about a Juneteenth celebration.
The post ‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

A New York man is facing felony hate crime charges after allegedly posting that he’d be “proud to hang” New York State Senator Lea Webb from a tree in response to a news story about a Juneteenth celebration.

James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested June 23 by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a WBNG 12 News Facebook post. “I’d be proud to hang her from a tree,” Crosby wrote, according to WBNG.

Crosby was charged with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, a class C felony, per the New York State Police. He is currently being held at Broome County Jail.

During the subsequent investigation, state police found Crosby was in illegal possession of firearms despite being prohibited from owning them due to a prior felony conviction. Investigators recovered a rifle, a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, and a firearm suppressor — all prohibited under New York state law, per the NYSP.

Crosby was charged with four additional counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, all class D felonies.

Webb, who represents New York’s 52nd Senate District, had been a featured speaker at a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony at Binghamton City Hall, where the celebration included prayers and the singing of the Black national anthem.

Police said Crosby’s comment was posted in response to a WBNG news story covering the event.

The day before his arrest, Crosby posted a Facebook apology claiming the comment “was not intended to be racial in any way” and was made in reference to what he described as a “criminal,” citing criticism of Webb over her use of nonprofit legal aid in a foreclosure case — a matter state watchdogs said created an appearance of a conflict of interest, per the Ithaca Voice. He was arrested the following day.

Webb issued a public statement June 25 condemning the threat.

“It was extremely disappointing and hurtful to see the now-deleted threat and attacks on my life in response to a story about Juneteenth, a national holiday that recognizes the ending of slavery in America,” she said. “Feedback and thoughts on policy are one thing, but to make a public call for lethal violence is absolutely unacceptable and dangerous. We must recognize our shared humanity and reject violence in all forms.”

She thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and law enforcement for their “swift response.”

Following Crosby’s comments, social media users called for a boycott of his contracting business, Crosby Home Improvements.

The Binghamton City Democratic Committee also called for an investigation into the incident before his arrest.

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The post ‘Proud to hang her from a tree’: Man arrested for threatening Black Senator appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Daily World.

The post ‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations

NEW YORK CARIB NEWS — Outgoing CARICOM Chairman Terrance Drew called on regional leaders to build a stronger and more effective Caribbean Community that benefits future generations. Speaking at the 51st Regular Meeting, Drew urged modernization of governance structures and improved implementation of Community decisions to make CARICOM safer and more prosperous.
The post CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

Speaking Sunday at the opening of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Saint Lucia, Dr. Terrance Drew said the region must modernize its governance structures, improve the implementation of Community decisions, and ensure CARICOM becomes safer, more prosperous, and more relevant to the lives of its citizens.

The meeting, being held under the theme “CARICOM: From Resilience to Renewal in a Changing World,” coincides with the Community’s 53rd anniversary. During the ceremony, Dr. Drew formally handed over the rotating CARICOM chairmanship to Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre.

Reflecting on his six-month tenure as chairman, Drew praised fellow regional leaders for maintaining their commitment to democracy, good governance, unity, and the rule of law despite mounting global economic and geopolitical challenges.

“Throughout these challenges, CARICOM chose engagement over isolation. Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to a fair and rules-based international trading system and ensured that the interests of small developing states continued to be heard.”
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He highlighted progress made in strengthening the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, including deeper trade cooperation, expanded labour mobility, and efforts to lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. Drew also noted the Community’s growing partnerships beyond the Caribbean, particularly with the African Union, while stressing that every international partnership should advance the interests of all parties involved.

The outgoing chairman also expressed appreciation to Dr. Carla Barnett and the CARICOM Secretariat for their professionalism and unwavering support during his tenure.

“Whenever I called, you answered. Whenever support was required, you and your team responded with diligence, competence, and excellence.”

Dr. Drew urged the Secretariat to continue preserving its impartiality while faithfully implementing decisions made by Heads of Government, saying that balance has helped strengthen the regional integration movement.

The conference continues in Saint Lucia with regional leaders expected to deliberate on key issues including regional security, climate resilience, trade, economic integration, food security, Haiti, reparations, and strengthening the CSME.

Based on reporting by New York Carib News.

The post CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations appeared first on BlackPressUSA.