BROWN GIRL founder, Karyn Washington has died

buzzz worthy. . .

Today is a morning of mourning for me. Karyn Washington, Founder of FOR BROWN GIRLS is dead. By suicide. I did not know this young lady personally but am extremely saddened by her passing. When society knocks you down repeatedly sometimes it's hard to recover. Her blog was created to support other victims of colorism and ahe spearheaded several other self-esteem boosting projects for girls and women of color. Karyn suffered from depression. Mental illness is real. Black folks DO take their own lives. Such stories are becoming commonplace. It's time to remove the stigma that it is weak to seek professional help. "Pray and give your burdens to the Lord" is how Black women are advised to handle problems. Yes, prayer works! But other methods of assistance, like counseling and joining support groups, can be added to prayer. Karyn wrote about her concerns and selflessly extended love to those who shared her pain. The mission of For Brown Girls was to uplift dark skinned women and address colorism. She started the Dark Skin Red Lips project in response to a rap lyric that said dark girls and red lipstick don't mix. In her short time with us, Washington exercised her purpose. I salute the 22 years she walked this earth. As a journalist, I am asking media to acknowledge the work she did and her passing, to shed light on depression in the African American community and to consider covering Colorism. It's a poisonous disease in the mind of society, for which education, tolerance and self love are the cure. Today at noon, wherever you are, please join me in a prayer to bind the disease of depression and lift the veil of ignorance that causes discrimination toward deeply hued people. If only we all could see ourselves and each other as God does. . .fearfully and wonderfully made. RIP Karyn.