Demetrius Harmon shakes hands with audience members during the lecture “We Gon’ Be Alright.” Photo by Momolu Akoiwala.
The University of Rhode Island’s oldest multicultural organization, Uhuru Sasa, and the Student Entertainment Committee hosted their second annual joint lecture, “We Gon’ Be Alright,” this past Tuesday, Feb. 5.
The event featured keynote speaker, Demetrius Harmon, who spoke about mental health in cultural communities that do not usually recognize mental health issues. After the lecture there was a panel discussion with Harmon and two URI faculty; Carnell Jones Jr., the director of Enrollment Services, and Jacqui Tisdale, assistant director of Outreach and Intervention.
Harmon, 20, is a self proclaimed poet and artist, with a larger social media presence. His brand, “You Matter,” sells hoodies, t-shirts and holiday themed merchandise.
SEC and Uhuru Sasa felt that Harmon was the best speaker for the job that was also in their price range and embodied what the lecture series means for students.
“It highlights basic issues we go through as a community, we are going to be alright as long as we’re a community, as long as we have each other,” said Uhuru Sasa President Marie Loua.
In his lecture, “Are We Gonna Be Alright?,” Harmon gave one strong message.
“I don’t know,” said Harmon. “I’m not the person who has all the answers. Happiness is not the finish line.”
Harmon spoke about his struggles with mental illness and the pressure to be okay during his lecture. He also discussed how fame and depression are a dangerous combination.
“How do you deal with not wanting to be seen, but being seen all the time?,” said Harmon.
Harmon posed many open ended questions throughout his lecture, emphasizing to the audience that he does not have all of the answers, and that others do not need to either.
“We need to be patient with ourselves,” said Harmon. “There’s no steps, there’s no how to, it’s unknown and we’re scared of the unknown.”
Harmon ended his lecture with a final uplifting message that above all else, he believes we are going to be alright. Following the lecture, panelists discussed how to change the stigma surrounding mental health and how to get help.
“Our theme this year was just healing as a community,” said Loua. “All the time it’s okay just to have these open discussions.”
In the next few years, Loua hopes to see even more growth in the We Gon’ Be Alright Lecture Series. “In almost the next 10 years, it will be a major event here at the University of Rhode Island,” said Loua.
Loua wants everyone to take away from this event that Uhuru Sasa is a multicultural organization that is here for everyone.
“Sasa is here for everyone, we are here to promote exactly what our organization says it does,” said Loua. “Culture, just everyone together to promote love, support, success and we are open arms.”
This event was in coordination with many other URI student groups. These groups included the Latin American Student Association (LASA), Student Alliance for the Welfare of Africa (SAWA), eXposure, PINK Women and more.
Tickets to the event, which was held in the Memorial Union Ballroom, were sold out. The ballroom can hold 300 people.