I once suffered from depression. I was down deep into that black role. I was seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist. They were NOT very helpful. It was my late husband who helped climb out. He said neither the psychiatrist not the psychologist had taken into account my psyche and the impact that music had on me for lifting my spirit. In particular, hymns; especially Negro spirituals and black gospel music.

All of the Christian hymns helped but the old Negro spirituals and black gospel music took me back to my childhood, a time when I could remember being happy and content. The words were a light and helped me find me find my way out of the darkness.

Amazing! Two professionals supposedly treating me so I could get better, but it was my husband, a non-professional, who found the “cure”.

(NOTE: As a Christian I know there is no such thing as “Negro” or “black gospel” because the message of Jesus Christ is for the entire world. However, in America we categorize and label music genres, so I used the descriptions that people are familiar with. )