Not long ago, a young man, Dike, tried to commit suicide by taking “a whole bottle of Tylenol” (453) in the basement of his mother’s house. Although he is in recovery at the moment and is making strides to overcome his depression, his actions cause inquiry. Why is he depressed? Why was he suicidal? First off, depression is not an emotion that can be ignored; it is an illness that requires treatment. The reasoning behind a suicidal person’s actions should not be questioned, but Dike’s attempt poses an interesting predicament. Was being afflicted by racism, inwardly and outwardly, the fuel for his decision? Unwanting of an outwardly African or ‘Black’ name, Dike seemed to be ashamed of his heritage. He was in a constant battle of identities
