Growing up in a Black or African family, autism was never part of the conversation. Instead, many of us were labeled:
❌ “Shy” or “too quiet”
❌ “Too sensitive” or “too much”
❌ “Defiant” or “difficult”
Our struggles were often misunderstood, and the idea of neurodivergence wasn’t even a consideration. Many of us masked, adapted, or internalized the belief that we were just ‘different’—without knowing why. Some were misdiagnosed with behavioral issues, anxiety, or depression. Others never received any recognition of their struggles at all.
In my latest YouTube video, I unpack this issue—how autism presents in Black communities, the cultural stigma around diagnosis, and what needs to shift for better understanding and support.
📺 Watch the full video here:
The reality is, neurodivergence exists in every culture—but not every culture has the language for it. And when you grow up without that framework, you end up learning to survive rather than being supported to thrive.
This is a conversation that’s long overdue. If this resonates with you, drop a comment—were you misdiagnosed, dismissed, or forced to mask growing up? Let’s talk about it.
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