Black Women Deserve More Than Trauma Narratives

I want to start with a quick disclaimer. I have not seen the new Tyler Perry movie. What I am sharing here is based on what I have seen across social media and from my experiences with his previous films.

As a Black woman and Black therapist, who is also a Black healer and creates spaces for our community to heal, I feel called to speak on this because the way trauma is portrayed in movies matters deeply.

I have been watching the reactions online. Many people were left in tears, triggered, or reminded of their own unprocessed pain. From what I have gathered, the film depicts mental health struggles and breakdowns. While bringing awareness to these realities is important, what happens after the awareness? What happens to viewers who are left emotionally raw, without tools to process what they just experienced?

This is not new. Many of Tyler Perry’s films focus on trauma within Black families. Generational wounds. Abuse. Betrayal. While these stories reflect real pain in our community, we also need to ask, where are the stories of healing?

Awareness is not enough. Our community is already in a mental health crisis. We need films that model what breaking cycles looks like. We need stories where someone chooses to seek help, builds support, and begins to heal, even while surrounded by the same environment that caused the harm. That is the kind of story I want to see more of. Not just the trauma, but the triumph. Not just the breakdown, but the breakthrough.

As Black women, we want to feel seen and heard. When we see movies like this, it reminds us that someone understands what we go through. But at what point do we start holding ourselves accountable for our own healing? No one is coming to save us. We must save ourselves. And we need media that shows that side too. Let’s teach our community that while the struggle hurts and healing does too, it is worth it. We cannot continue bonding only through trauma. We deserve to bond through healing, growth, and joy.

Tyler Perry himself has spoken openly about going to therapy for the first time at age 54 and how the process helped him work through his trauma. I respect him deeply for that and for using his platform to promote therapy. Because he knows firsthand how powerful healing can be, I would love to see him create a film that centers therapy and healing. A film that shows what that journey looks like, how transformation happens, and how generational cycles can truly be broken.

We also need leaders like Tyler Perry advocating for real change in the mental health system. We need insurance companies to reimburse therapists fairly so that mental health professionals can sustainably serve our communities. We need policies that allow therapists to practice across state lines so that more people can access care regardless of where they live. Our community needs these kinds of resources and support. Awareness is not enough if people cannot access qualified therapists or afford the help they need.

And let me be clear. I admire Tyler Perry. In fact, because of Tyler Perry, I was inspired to create my therapy practice, Healing Journey Counseling Center, in 2019, where we have helped hundreds of clients break generational trauma and begin their healing journeys. I remember watching him at the BET Awards in 2019 speak about building a seat at the table and creating opportunity. That speech moved me deeply and pushed me to build my own space for healing in my community.

So this is not about tearing him down. It is about calling us all higher. We need stories that inspire healing. We need platforms that help drive access to care. We need to see not just our trauma, but our triumph.

I work with Black women every day who are doing the brave work of healing. They do not need to be retraumatized on screen. They need to see that healing is possible.

Let’s tell those stories too.

And Tyler Perry, if you happen to read this, thank you for creating space, for giving Black communities jobs, and for showing us that it is possible to create our own lane. You have inspired so many of us to dream bigger. My hope is that as you continue to tell our stories, you will also help lead the way in showing what healing looks like. Our community needs it, and your voice can help us get there.

Ready to take your own step toward healing?
I created a special worksheet to go along with this blog. It will help you process your own experiences with trauma and begin to build a personal plan for healing.

You can download the Moving From Awareness to Healing worksheet today for just $5.