Anxiety and the Unspoken Weight Black Men Carry: Jaret Lloyd on Vulnerability
By Lana Reid | December 24, 2025
As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Jaret Lloyd, author of Thoughts of an Anxious Black Man, for an honest conversation about Black men, anxiety, and vulnerability. Jaret shares how anxiety shaped his internal world and how unspoken emotional weight often impacts Black men navigating expectations around strength, masculinity, and resilience. The conversation centers on mental health, honesty, and creating space for healing.
In this episode of The Male Perspective, Jaret Lloyd offers a deeply reflective discussion on anxiety, emotional labor, and mental health in Black men.
Jaret explains how anxiety often manifests quietly, shaped by social pressure, internalized expectations, and the need to appear strong in environments that leave little room for vulnerability. He shares how writing Thoughts of an Anxious Black Man became a way to process emotions that were long suppressed or misunderstood.
Throughout the conversation, Lana Reid and Jaret explore how silence around mental health contributes to isolation. Jaret reflects on the difficulty many Black men face when trying to articulate emotional struggles, even in supportive spaces. He emphasizes that anxiety does not always look like panic, but can appear as overthinking, emotional withdrawal, or constant self-monitoring.
The discussion also highlights the importance of safe environments where vulnerability is not punished or dismissed. Jaret underscores the need for spaces in brotherhoods, campuses, and communities where honesty is encouraged and emotional expression is normalized.
This episode affirms that acknowledging anxiety is not weakness, but an act of self-awareness and courage. It reinforces the importance of storytelling, empathy, and open dialogue in supporting mental health and healing.
About the Guest
Jaret Lloyd is the author of Thoughts of an Anxious Black Man. His work centers on mental health, vulnerability, and exploring the emotional experiences of Black men through reflective writing and honest dialogue.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ฑ:
https://www.thoughtsofananxiousblackman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jlloyd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaret.lloyd.1
https://www.amazon.com/Thoughts-Anxious-Black-Man-Reflections/dp/B0FX29KBPX
About the Series
This episode is part of the Black Men Matter Series, highlighting Black men who use storytelling and lived experience to address mental health, break stigma, and encourage emotional honesty within their communities.
About the Host & Organization
The Male Perspective is hosted by Lana Reid, founder of Conversations in Color, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to providing uplifting and community-building spaces of dialogue for Black voices.
Conversations in Colorโs Current Initiatives
THE MALE PERSPECTIVE
The purpose of The Male Perspective is to dispel stereotypes and increase awareness of the experiences of Black men through open discussions, thought-provoking interviews, and the sharing of personal experiences that highlight the diversity and depth of the Black male experience.
SISTAS REBUILDING SISTERHOOD
Sistas Rebuilding Sisterhood is an intergenerational community of Black women who come together for relaxed, non-judgmental gatherings to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaborate in a collective effort to improve the quality of sisterhood interactions in everyday life.
TAPESTRY OF BLACK VOICES AWARDS
The Tapestry of Black Voices Awards honors local communities and showcases the creativity, brilliance, and lived experiences of Black voices across the United States.