KMOJ's Community Viewpoint

🖤 PART 3: The Support
This Saturday at 8AM on 89.9 KMOJ | The4Opinions 🎙️

Grief isn’t just about the person feeling the loss—
 It’s about the village around them too.

So many of us want to show up, but don’t know how.
What do you say when “I’m sorry” doesn’t feel like enough?
How do you hold space for someone without rushing their pain?

This week, we’re diving deep into what real support looks like during grief.
Not the “check in once and disappear” kind—
but the kind that sticks around, listens, and lets folks feel without fixing.

 Let’s talk about:
 • What NOT to say to someone who’s grieving
 • How to be present without overstepping
 • Ways to support when you feel helpless
 • And why sometimes, silence speaks louder than words

If you’ve ever struggled to comfort a loved one going through it—or if you are the one grieving and wish people understood you better—this episode is for you. .

Let’s do better. Together.
#The4Opinions #TheWeightWeCarry #Part3Support #GriefSupport #BlackMentalHealth #KMOJ #ShowUpForYourPeople #CommunityHealing #HoldSpace #YouAreNotAlone

Grief doesn’t have a timeline—and healing isn’t linear. But what is true? You don’t have to go through it alone.

This episode is a reminder that even in the silence, your pain is valid. Your memories matter. And your healing deserves space.

So whether you're deep in it, just beginning to feel the weight, or walking beside someone in their grief—let this be your permission to feel, to rest, and to heal at your own pace.

We’re not just talking about loss.
 We’re reclaiming our right to grieve fully, loudly, and unapologetically.

We say “take your time to heal”—but does the world really mean it, especially for Black folks?

In this episode of The4Opinions, we’re cutting deep into the stigma around how Black people are expected to grieve, heal, and bounce back like it’s nothing. 

Whether it's the 3–5 day bereavement policy at work or family traditions that tell us to "just pray about it and keep moving," the reality is—healing doesn’t work on a schedule.

Let’s make it clear—grief and healing aren’t luxuries. They’re part of life. And for Black folks especially, it’s time we stop letting others write the rules on how long we get to feel, hurt, and rebuild

The holidays can be joyful, but for many, they’re also a painful reminder of who’s no longer here. This Saturday, we’re holding space for that grief.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Tanika West-Moore, affectionately known as “The Counseling Chef.” With over 21 years in the mental health field and a passion for healing through food and storytelling, Tanika shares her journey of losing her mother and how she’s turned her pain into purpose.

 Her new book, “When Mommy is Gone,” is more than just a story—it’s a soft landing for those carrying silent grief, especially during this season. As a therapist, life coach, doula, and founder of two heartfelt ventures named after her late mother, Tanika’s work reminds us that healing comes in many forms—sometimes in a conversation, sometimes in a home-cooked meal.

 This episode is for anyone grieving a mother, anyone feeling the heaviness of the season, or anyone needing to hear, "You’re not alone. Live on 89.9 KMOJ at 8AM CST

Or stream online at www.kmojfm.com

Join us, call in, share your heart, and let’s walk through this together.

Conclusion: We Ain’t Just Talkin’—We Healin’

As we close out this powerful two-month series on Black and Minority Mental Health, The4Opinions didn’t just bring conversation—we brought real ones to the mic.

This final episode hit different.

We were joined by Adoniyah Israel, who broke it all the way down on how mental health is deeply connected to being justice-impacted. From the weight of incarceration to the silent trauma carried after release, he reminded us that choices around healing don’t come easy—but they are necessary. His words were a bold reminder that if we don’t choose our healing, the system will choose our pain.

Then we heard from T’Michael Cunigan, who brought raw and honest reflections about being a young Black man navigating mental health in today’s world. From growing up in a culture that told him to "man up," to learning how to actually check in with himself, he shared what it means to break generational habits and start walking in emotional freedom.

This ain’t just podcast talk—this is legacy-building, heart-work, and community healing.

💬 Together, we explored:

• What it looks like to take care of your mind while carrying real-life struggle
• How systems continue to fail us, and how we have to show up for ourselves
• The importance of safe spaces, therapy, and having people who get it
• And most importantly—how to keep going, even when it’s hard

🧠 If nobody told you today: it’s okay to not be okay.
Healing is a choice—and a radical one in a world that wants you broken.

Let’s Talk Juneteenth: Freedom, Reflection, and the Fight for True Unity

June 19, 1865—more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation—Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform the last remaining enslaved Black people that they were finally free. This moment became known as Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.

Juneteenth is more than just a holiday—it's a powerful reminder of delayed justice, the resilience of Black communities, and the ongoing journey toward equity and liberation. Over the years, the day has evolved into a vibrant celebration of Black history, culture, excellence, and pride. Parades, festivals, community cookouts, educational panels, and artistic performances all paint a picture of joy and empowerment—but beneath the surface, deeper conversations are still necessary.

Join us on The4Opinions as we reflect on the modern-day meaning of Juneteenth. We’ll break down:

• The beauty of community celebration—the joy, culture, and tradition that brings us together
• The gaps and challenges, from commercialization to the lack of intentionality and inclusivity
• The need for unity—how the same divisions we fought to escape still show up in our own spaces
• The role of leadership—and what effective, accountable, and community-centered leadership should look like
• The vision forward—creating Juneteenth events that are safe, inspiring, and grounded in our shared liberation

As Black people, we deserve more than just a symbolic celebration—we deserve healing, action, and lasting impact. How do we ensure Juneteenth continues to evolve as a space of transformation? How do we use this day not just to reflect, but to organize, educate, and empower?

This episode invites voices from all corners—activists, organizers, community members, and everyday people—to help reimagine what Juneteenth could be when we truly lead with purpose and unity.

Let’s talk. Let’s build. Let’s transform.

 The Memory Still Hurts

It’s been five years since the world watched George Floyd take his last breath under the knee of injustice. Five years since Minneapolis shook the globe and forced a reckoning. And still, the pain feels fresh. The anger still burns. The trauma still lingers.

In Part 1, we reflect. We hold space for the grief. For the outrage. For the memories etched into our minds—of protests, chants, tears, and a community demanding change.

What has changed since May 25, 2020? What hasn’t? How has this moment shaped us, our children, and the city we call home?

We’ll hear from community leaders, activists, and everyday people who were there—on the front lines and in the background—making history with their pain, their power, and their presence.

Now that we’ve named the pain, let’s talk solutions.

In Part 2, we focus on how to rebuild, relearn, and recover. We’ll sit down with therapists, life coaches, fathers, brothers, and healers to explore real pathways to mental wellness for Black men. From culturally competent therapy and safe spaces to faith, fatherhood, friendship, and freedom—this is about rewriting the narrative.

What does it look like when Black men choose healing? What resources actually work? And how do we, as a community, support the journey?

Because healing isn’t just possible—it’s necessary.

For generations, Black men have been told to “man up,” “suck it up,” or worse—“just pray about it.” But what happens when the pain runs deeper than prayer alone can fix? When silence becomes a survival tactic, and vulnerability is seen as weakness? June is Black Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s time we talk about it—really talk.

Why is it that in our communities, therapy is often seen as taboo, while trauma is treated like tradition? Why do our brothers carry the weight of the world with no outlet, no blueprint, and barely any resources? 

We want to shift that. Because silence is killing us—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

This month, we’re breaking that silence. Let’s dismantle the myths, confront the cultural norms, and build a space where healing isn’t just possible—it’s necessary.