Unfortunately, September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The CDC recently reported that nearly 50,0000 Americans took their lives via suicide in 2022. The second leading cause of death for young adult Black males and older Black men is suicide. As human beings, we need to be more compassionate and concerned about our loved ones, friends, colleagues and neighbors. kweisi (pronounced kway-c), a critically acclaimed poet from the famous south-side of Chicago, a graduate of the class of 1992 from the HBCU, Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, a member of the illustrious fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Zeta chapter, and he studied in a Literary Master’s Program in Oxford, England. Kweisi’s younger brother, James Lemar Ford aka Lemont was horrendously murdered on Saturday, January 11, 1992. In dealing with this tumultuous pain Kweisi turned to drugs, alcohol, and physical relationships with women in seeking to escape the pain and hurt. When these external pleasures did not numb his pain, kweisi thought of taking his life several times via suicide. Writing poetry saved kweisi’s life. Writing the poem, one shot away, saved kweisi’s life, as it allowed him to take his life via the art of writing that he did not manifest the thoughts of suicide in reality. one shot away is up for consideration for Best Song For Social Change for the 66TH GRAMMY AWARDS. Poetry empowered Kweisi to write, meet and forgive Lemont’s killers. the truth. the way. the life. produced by Spike Rebel world release, 12A Friday, September 29th. If you or anyone you know is dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, feeling alone and/or having thoughts of suicide, please reach out to SAVE (SuicideAwareness Voices of Education): https://save.org/ and the # is:
800-273.8255. You are not alone, you are worthy to be loved.

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