Kanye West and “The Crazy Uncle” Syndrome

Kanye West is one of Black America’s biggest challenges. He is a supremely talented musician and our introduction to him made us celebrate his success. It wasn’t just the catchy hooks and rhythmic melodies. It was his lyrics. His transparency and self-awareness spoke to us. He said what we wanted to, or wouldn’t, or couldn’t say. He translated our innermost thoughts, insecurities, and fears into a palatable form of sensational samples and heart-thumping bass. Kanye wasn’t just making us dance. He was making us think.

Kanye is a creative. Creatives see the world differently, and help transform our world into something new and exciting. Creatives have energy and drive and seem to extract the very essence of life to deliver it to us mere mortals. He is our favorite Uncle who enters the house with fantastic fury and flair. The kids love him because he does magic tricks and tells stories of wonderful places and adventures we’ve only seen in movies. However, what we don’t see is the subtle eye rolls of the adults who have seen this before and know it doesn’t end well. Our favorite uncle is also our “crazy uncle” and the adults have to put things back together when he implodes.

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The “crazy uncle” is a common theme among African Americans. It’s a blanket moniker used to describe a multitude of bizarre behaviors exhibited by a family member. Consistent in this themology are the family’s decision to take over care, and little-to-no medical intervention. The family coordinates their efforts to keep his behavior under control, keep him out of jail, and off substances. This collaboration can be due to a mix of reasons including:

• Lack of comprehensive insurance coverage
• Mistrust of medical professionals and care
• Lack of understanding of mental illness course, care, and treatment
• Patient’s unwillingness to seek and engage with care
• Stigma associated with mental illness in the Black community

Rhetorical question time. “Is the above the best way to handle Kanye or our ‘crazy uncles’?” Is the stress and strain imposed by their outbursts worth the beauty of their creativity? Has our silent suffering enabled them to push the boundaries of their maniacal manifestations? The short and obvious answers are“No, no, and yes, respectively.” But, the real question is, “How?”

COVID-19 has placed us in a precarious position. There are services we need, however, CDC guidelines and protocols have limited our ability to access the resources for ourselves and our family. “Necessity is the mother of invention” is not just a cliche. It has become the blueprint for survival as the pandemic persists. Mental health services have gone online. You can live chat with a therapist and even have your prescription sent virtually to the pharmacist. A quick Google search will help you locate a virtual counselor in your area. Here are a few quick links to get you started:

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• BlackDoctor.org (BDO) – Through the simple search tool, you can find a culturally sensitive psychiatrist or psychologist in your area. You can contact them directly to check for virtual treatment options.
• ReGain – Couples therapists trained in relationship counseling.
• Faithful Counseling – Licensed therapists catering specifically for Christians.
• Teen Counseling – Specialists in therapy to help teens flourish.
• Pride Counseling – LGBT counseling that can help clients feel proud.

What does this mean for Kanye and our “crazy uncle”? It means the days of crossing our fingers and hoping they don’t have an “episode” are coming to an end. It means that family reunions and holidays can only contain fond memories. And it means that we don’t have to force our loved ones into a situation that is uncomfortable for them and you. Finally, it means that we and they don’t have to suffer in silence any longer. And, like Kanye told us himself, “That that don’t kill me, will only make me stronger.” 

#My3Cents