By Arlene Hosea
In May of this year, the JAMA Pediatrics published a study that found that the suicide rate among Black children had nearly doubled since the early 1990’s. The study also noted that from 2008 – 2012 suicide was the 9thleading cause of death for Black children between the ages of 5 – 11 years old; up from 14th during the period of 1993 – 1997. This fact was shocking to the researchers.
September 30, 2006, we lost my great nephew Ryan Michael to suicide. Ryan was not a part of the age group the researchers studied; he was 15 at the time of his death. According to the Center for Disease Control data, in 2006 suicide for Black males between the ages of 15 – 19, was 5.3% and in 2011, that number increased to 7.1%. In the 15 – 19 age groups, suicide in 2006 and 2011 was the 3rd leading cause of death in Black males.
For nine years, I wondered why Ryan made that final decision that death was better than life. On Monday, June 1, 2015 his younger twin sisters provided me the answer. It was the first time we discussed Ryan’s death; they were 9 years old when it happened. One said to me over dinner, “Auntie, Ryan could not take it anymore. He said he was going to do something to himself but I did not believe him. He could not take the kids making fun of him and picking on him. He said it was too much.”
Ryan’s family struggled like a lot of families. They had a lot of love among them as a family. Although their parents were divorced and separated by many miles, they made the best of their situation. Ryan was a quiet, well mannered, and caring young man. He had a little more weight on him than he would have liked and he did not have the designer shoes, and trendy clothes as some did. Ryan had what his family could afford and sometimes it was second hand. He worked hard in school and had dreams, goals and wanted the American Dream for himself and his family. But Ryan’s dreams and goals will never be realized. We will never know what contributions Ryan would have made; who knows, he could have helped to change how we talk to each other and treat each other. He was blessed with patience, a caring heart and respect for others. It is sad that others did not have respect for him.
Our children are growing up in challenging times whether they have a lot or a little. The statistics are real and we must recognize that as a society we do have to invest in more preventive health care services, they do work. We must recognize that our most vulnerable are not getting what they need and pull together for a better future for all. Some researchers believe that environmental factors play a role and in 2008, The Root .Com reported: “Young black males live in some of the most-difficult circumstances in our society and added that “the combination of family stress, violence in their communities and the discrimination they face is taking a toll.” Remembering Ryan brings to mind my personal responsibility to care more, try more, do more and pray more. It also reminds me to teach that words to do hurt and you can never take them back. Hurtful words cause the type of damage that the best surgeons cannot repair, for words can cut deep and hide in one’s soul for a lifetime, even if that life is only 15 years old.
Arlene Hosea was born and raised in Bloomington. She retired from Illinois State University and is on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Illinois. She has also served on the Town of Normal Human Relations Commission, The Baby Fold and the YWCA Board of Directors. Arlene resides in Normal.
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