Do Real Men Cry?

Yes, real men do cry. They are human. And it's okay. So, why not?

Why are we letting our men and boys carry these tags and burdens?

Yellow boys cry, yellow men cry

and it's okay

it detoxifies the body and releases feel-good chemicals

don't suppress your tears

don't fit into a mold

cry when you want to

Black boys cry, black men cry

and it's okay

it's one of the body’s natural healing mechanisms

it's not a sign of weakness

don't fit into a mold

cry when you want to

There's a reason for the Japanese rui-katsu

There's a reason for the Nigerian asaaju oku

I give you the permission to cry when you have to

White boys cry, white men cry

and it's okay

it relieves stress, releases tight muscles and aids sleep

holding back your tears can hurt you

don't fit into a mold

cry when you want

Brown boys cry, brown men cry

and it's okay.

it restores emotional balance

don't numb your feelings, honor your sensitivities

don't fit into a mold

cry when you want

All boys cry, all men cry

if they want to, how they want

they don't have to fit into a mold

let them cry when they want to

let them cry when they need to

xoxo

Jumi Eniola

Photo Credit: Goh Rhy Yan, Unsplash