Addressing Black Male Mental Health: Mark Tuggle on Cultural Silence & Healing
By Lana Reid | December 28, 2022
As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Mark Tuggle, editor and contributor to Cultural Silence and Wounded Souls, to discuss Black male mental health and the impact of cultural silence on emotional well-being. Mark shares how stigma, stereotypes, and unspoken expectations often prevent Black men from expressing vulnerability and seeking support. The conversation centers on the importance of honest dialogue, storytelling, and community-based healing.
In this episode of The Male Perspective, Mark Tuggle offers a thoughtful examination of mental health, cultural expectations, and emotional expression among Black men.
Mark explains how cultural silence has historically shaped how Black men process stress, trauma, and vulnerability. He discusses how expectations around strength and resilience often discourage emotional openness, leading many men to internalize pain rather than address it.
Throughout the conversation, Lana Reid and Mark explore the power of storytelling as a healing tool. Mark shares how contributing to Cultural Silence and Wounded Souls created space for honest reflection and collective understanding. He emphasizes that sharing lived experiences helps dismantle stigma while fostering empathy and connection.
The discussion also highlights the importance of awareness and community support. Mark underscores that healing requires both individual courage and environments where vulnerability is met with understanding rather than judgment. He stresses that addressing Black male mental health must involve education, compassion, and intentional spaces for dialogue.
This episode reinforces that breaking cultural silence is a necessary step toward emotional wellness, healing, and long-term mental health advocacy.
About the Guest
Mark Tuggle is an editor, writer, and mental health advocate who contributed to Cultural Silence and Wounded Souls. His work focuses on storytelling, emotional awareness, and creating space for honest conversations around Black mental health and healing.
For more information on Mark Tuggle:
https://culturalsilencewoundedsouls.com/
https://www.instagram.com/markjudgetuggle
About the Series
This episode is part of the Black Men Matter Series, highlighting Black men as writers, advocates, and thought leaders who use dialogue and storytelling to address mental health, stigma, and emotional well-being.
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 Color’s 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.