
The Serendipity of Juneteenth and Father’s Day Coinciding
In psychiatry, there is much to learn and consider from these 2 celebrations.
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Occasionally,
Much of psychological importance ties the 2 holidays together. One aspect is emancipation, not only legally, but socially and psychologically. When slavery ended, it didn’t mean that African Americans felt free or were treated as equals. The importance of reestablishing lasting marriages and the family presence of Black fathers—long disrupted by slavery and then by economic barriers and male imprisonment—continues to be a desired part of the recovery process and is still unfolding. A timely push for that progress is evidenced by the new book by
Moreover, for most men regardless of their cultural background, their presumed and
Perhaps partially as a reflection of priming boys to be strong, macho, and in control, gun violence may have become a destructive way to address their changing roles, especially as women have become more involved outside of the home. Of course, a backlash against the freedom of women has been recently reflected in the abortion challenge to Roe v. Wade, and perhaps in the trial of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard as well.
If anything, this Sunday’s coincidence of Juneteenth and Father’s Day can represent and reinforce the cause of freedom, justice, and opportunity for all, especially for the children of the next generation.
Dr Moffic is an award-winning psychiatrist who has specialized in the cultural and ethical aspects of psychiatry. A prolific writer and speaker, he received the one-time designation of Hero of Public Psychiatry from the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association in 2002. He is an advocate for mental health issues relate to climate instability, burnout, Islamophobia, and anti-Semitism. He serves on the Editorial Board of Psychiatric TimesTM.
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