Black Rainbow Comics

Here are the lyrics for Lithium by Nirvana:

I’m so happy. Cause today I found my friends.
They’re in my head. I’m so ugly. But that’s ok.
‘Cause so are you. We’ve broke our mirrors.
Sunday morning. Is everyday for all I care.
And I’m not scared. Light my candles. In a daze cause I’ve found god.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah…..

I’m so lonely. And that’s ok. (alt: ’cause today )
I shaved my head. And I’m not sad, and just maybe
I’m to blame for all I’ve heard. And I’m not sure.
I’m so excited. I can’t wait to meet you there.
And I don’t care. I’m so horny. But that’s ok. My will is good.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah…..

(Chorus)
I like it. I’m not gonna crack.
I miss you. I’m not gonna crack.
I love you.I’m not gonna crack.
I killed you. I’m not gonna crack. (x2)

I’m so happy. Cause today I found my friends.
They’re in my head. I’m so ugly. But that’s ok.
‘Cause so are you. We’ve broke our mirrors.
Sunday morning. Is everyday for all I care.
And I’m not scared. Light my candles.
In a daze cause I’ve found god.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah…..
(Chorus)..

Movie Poster for "Precious" starring Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Mo nique, and Lenny Kravitz

Just finished the novel Push by Sapphire which I greatly enjoyed. It’s recently been made into a movie starring Mo’nique, Mariah Carey, and Paula Patton as the title character Precious Jones. Precious is an illiterate 16 year old girl who has fallen through the cracks of New York’s social and educational system. Mentally, physically, and sexually abused by both parents, Precious had a Down Syndrome baby courtesy of her father while being impregnated with his second for much of the story. Throughout the book, Precious’ “ignerance” seems to be what keeps her afloat within her brutal circumstances. She alludes to hopelessness and wanting to die without any clear idea or plan on how to do so.

It isn’t until Chapter 4 that the reader gets a glimpse of how Precious copes with the father raping her. She often regresses to an idealized fantasy world like the Wizard of Oz while the act occurs and brings herself back to reality afterward with a variety of self harm gestures.

Afterward I go to bafroom. I smear shit on my face…I bite my fingernails till they look like disease, pull strips of my skin away. Get Daddy’s razor out cabinet. Cut cut cut arm wrist, not trying to die, trying to plug myself back in. (Sapphire, pp.111-12, Vintage Contemporaries, 2009)

That passage alone really brought a realness to an already truthful and raw piece of literary work for me. Like so many of the real world individuals I care for who have undergone horrific mental, sexual, and physical abuse, these maladaptive coping mechanisms are all too often present within their patient histories. The smearing of feces on the face is a new one though. I have dealt with the likes of cutting, scratching, and burning but I really hope i never run into that. Knives, lighters, and razors I can confiscate. There is no way for me to stop a patient from abusing themselves with their bowel movements in the privacy of their washroom. You win, Precious!

PUSH by Sappire book cover:

The novel Push by Sapphire is available on Amazon.ca

Watch the trailer for the movie version renamed Precious

Official web site:
www.weareallprecious.com

After just over a year of experimenting with the cartooning medium, I am ready to start work on my first continuous storyline. The past year has been a learning and development period for myself as an new cartoonist. In the midst of all the experimentation, I have been working on a script that brings together the characters I designed to engage in more meaningful interactions.  I have portions of it written and planned but will also be flying by the seat of my pants. It’s been challenging juggling all the different variables that come with maintaining an online cartoon, most of all, keeping it fun and spontaneous. So with balls to the wall, I am starting on this new venture for Black Rainbow where I can really explicitly tackle and explore mental health and psychiatric related ideas and issues.

Eastenders character Stacey Slater suffers from Bipolar Disorder.

It’s a great look when an iconic television series such as the EastEnders from the United Kingdom addresses serious mental health issues with it’s young adult characters. Specifically, character Stacey Slater suffers from bipolar disorder. Hopefully, the show will generate interest and awareness amongst it’s audience to learn more and perhaps even seek help.

Eastenders Bipolar Story helps young seek advice by Brandice Alexander Newsbeat reporter

EastEnders character Stacey Slater highlighted the problems of bipolar sufferers.

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds seeking help for bipolar disorder has doubled in the past six months, according to doctors.

The number of young people calling helplines went from around 400 a day to an average of more than 800. MDF, The BiPolar Organisation, believe it’s down to the storyline in BBC One soap EastEnders featuring the character Stacey Slater. Bipolar is a mental disorder which affects more than half a million people in the UK. It makes people’s mood go from very low, making you feel depressed, to extreme highs known as mania and is often diagnosed between the ages of 18 and 24.

‘Happy chemicals’

Twenty-two-year-old Gary from Lincoln is bipolar but was wrongly diagnosed with depression at first.

“When I was diagnosed with depression I was glad that the doctors thought they knew what was wrong with me,” he said.

“I was given antidepressants. I would’ve preferred speech therapy though. The antidepressants made me really high. I had too much energy.

For the rest of the article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/health/newsid_10000000/newsid_10004400/10004491.stm

Eminem's song "Stan" is rated 209th out of Rolling Stone's 500 Best Songs of All Time

I had one of those brilliant moments a couple days ago. You know the ones where you are listening to a song you have heard so often that you’ve been desensitized to it’s lyrics, nuances, and production but then you abruptly pick up on something you missed. This moment came while I was listening to Eminem’s song “Stan” off Live 365’s Hip Hop Lounge. Here’s the line I came across for the first time 3/4 of the way through the second verse.

Sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds
It’s like adrenaline, the pain is such a sudden rush for me

There it is. I never picked up on the fact that Stan was a cutter. Never mind that he was a substance abuser, delusional, sociopathic, and in the closet homosexual. That was always loud and clear, But I missed the fact that Stan liked to self harm for fun. In my head, Stan strongly represents a personality disorder gone very wrong. Does anyone disagree?

Here is the video for the song Stan by Eminem. The song is considered one of the most original rap tracks, with fans and critics praising the talk-rapping style Eminem uses in the song. There is a great narrative going on in the song so listen closely. Incidentally,  Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song #290 in their list of: The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In addition, It was listed on VH1’s list of the greatest hip hop songs of all time.