Article
Contagious Philosophy and Perspectives
Author(s):
Taking a page from African philosophy that emphasizes the importance of humanity into the psychiatric realm.
POETRY FOR INCLUSION
Song About Summer/Adobestock
We live in a world in which the philosophy of embracing our brothers and sisters of diverse backgrounds and perspectives with love has often fallen on deaf ears. I would like to introduce an African philosophy that emphasizes the importance of humanity. I recently learned the word "ubuntu." It has multiple translations, including “I am because we are” or “humanity toward others.” I embolden all communities to adopt and reflect on this philosophy that promotes kindness, compassion, and respect.
Hopefully this poem fosters reflection.
Constricted heart expand your
capacity to pump agape love to all
nations.
Ubuntu
Embolic lungs seek anticoagulation
filled with humility and
understanding to exhale peace.
Ubuntu
Myopic eyes refocus your
grandiose lenses coated with
confirmation bias replacing them
with paradoxical cataracts of hope.
Ubuntu
Anhedonic abdomen be
courageous to digest diverse
perspective food particles that
absorb knowledge and wisdom.
Ubuntu
Hyperglycemic palate divest
from the casteism candy narrative
and ingest humanity sweetener.
Ubuntu
Dr Clark is associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Greenville and medical director and division chief for Adult Inpatient and Consult-Liaison Services for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Prisma Health - Upstate. He served on the American Psychiatric Association’s Task Force to Address Structural Racism Throughout Psychiatry, and he currently serves as the Diversity and Inclusion section editor and advisory board member for Psychiatric TimesTM.
