Inspired By Legends (Mamba Mentality)
by Keenan Hart
Mental health has always been a topic close to my heart, and people often ask me why I'm so passionate about it. The answer is simple. I come from a background of men who didn't even have an opportunity to have conversations about mental health and wellness.
Growing Up
As a biracial man, with a black father and a white mother, I’ve had advantages that my grandfathers, who grew up in the 1930s and 1940s in the United States, couldn’t even imagine. My grandfather was even spit on because of the color of his skin. Despite the challenges and hardships they faced, my father took the risk to be an entrepreneur and start his own company.
This has made me reflect on the sacrifices and challenges that my ancestors went through, and I want to use my experiences and opportunities to make a positive impact on the world. I grew up playing sports, such as football, basketball, and baseball and was inspired by legends like Kobe Bryant. Kobe had a famous saying, “Everybody wants to be great, but they’re not willing to do the necessary sacrifices to achieve greatness.”
Having the Right Conversations
This quote has always stuck with me, and as I think about the next few years of my life, I want to be known for putting out positive messages into the world. I want to create safe spaces and have tough conversations around mental health, mindset, and mental wellness. The men who came before me didn’t have the opportunity to raise their hand when they felt stressed, overwhelmed, angry, inferior, or discriminated against, but I want to change that.
I have the opportunity to share my passion for mental health and lift people up through things like this blog post and other pieces of content. When people ask me why I’m so passionate about mental health, I tell them it’s not about where I’m going, but where I came from.
