While anger is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Nervous and Mental Disorders, it is often a prominent symptom of clinical depression especially in African American men. According to Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General, “African American men who suffer from depression are far less likely to be diagnosed for depression and therefore less likely to receive treatment than Caucasian men”.

The stigma associated with counseling or psychotherapy makes the acknowledgement of depression in African American unacceptable. ??Of the common symptoms associated with depression, anger is the only symptom that makes the sufferer feel strong and powerful.

This is one of the reasons that the expression of angry feelings in African American men are easier than feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem or persistent sadness. The unfortunate consequence of the failure to appropriately address depression in African American men is the disproportionate number of person or property directed violent offences among this population.

Many African American men and adolescents boys are diverted from counseling or psychotherapy for depression to the criminal justice system with mandated anger management, intervention or incarceration. ??Anger management is not a substitute for psychiatric treatment, psychotropic medication or psychotherapy. Therefore, all professional anger management providers should determine during the assessment if an evaluation for depression is also indicated.

In mainstream society depression and mental illness are still somewhat taboo subjects; in the black community they are topics that are almost completely shrouded in secrecy. As a result, millions of black men are suffering in silence or getting treatment only in extreme circumstances–in emergency rooms, homeless shelters, and prisons. The neglect of emotional disorders among men in the black community is nothing less than racial suicide.

In Kanye West’s case, he appears to be experiencing protracted grieving in relation to the tragic loss of his mother that has gone unrecognized and untreated.