The Lesser-Known King: Mental Health Struggles and the Power of Creative Maladjustment
"You who are in the field of psychology have given us a great word. It is the word maladjusted."
An Evening at the Apollo
Stepping into the Apollo Theater for the 18th annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was like walking through a portal of past, present, and futur . As the doors of the iconic venue opened, a rush of anticipation filled the air, mingling with the echoes of past performances. The Apollo, a center of the Harlem Renaissance and host to numerous African American artists like Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, and Billie Holiday, enveloped me in its rich cultural teachings. The walls, adorned with photographs and memorabilia, also recounted the stories of modern legends who graced these walls, including Questlove, Dave Chapelle, and H.E.R. This wasn't just a theater; it was a vibrant, living homage to the resilience and artistic genius of the African American community. The setting was fitting for an event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a figure whose life and legacy continue to profoundly impact American history.1
This year's celebration, produced by NPR and hosted by Kai Wright of "Notes From America" and Michael Hill of "Morning Edition," transcended a mere commemorative event to become a profound exploration of Dr. King's multifaceted legacy. It was an enlightening experience that illuminated often-overlooked or inconvenient aspects of Dr. King's life, such as his mental health struggles. In a time when mental health is starting to be recognized as a normal part of the human experience, acknowledging this facet of one of America's greatest leaders is more vital than ever.
Sitting in the audience at "The Inconvenient King" event, I had a major realization. History has a way of idolizing figures, often skimming over the very humanity that truly defines them. Hearing about King's battles with depression and teenage suicidal attempts was a total eye-opener. I am so grateful he found ways to heal and grow. This insight adds a genuine, human aspect to his story, highlighting how his deeply felt emotions likely inspired his deeply compassionate leadership and groundbreaking achievements in civil rights and social justice.
The Intersection of Leadership, Vulnerability, & Mental Health
Diving into the lesser-known facets of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, we uncover the deeply human side of this iconic leader. From his childhood to his pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, King's journey was marked by personal battles with mental health, including severe depression and even two suicidal attempts during his teenage years. These struggles reveal a King who experienced profound personal despair, yet emerged with an incredible capacity for empathy and strength.
Early in his career, King faced a significant mental health challenge. Picture this scene: just 20 minutes to prepare for his first major speech at the Montgomery Bus Boycott, overwhelmed by anxiety, a moment akin to a panic attack. This intimate detail, shared by author Jonathan Eig, highlights King's vulnerability in the face of enormous pressure. Yet, he triumphed, delivering a speech that marked a turning point in his life and the Civil Rights Movement.2
King's internal battles may have been the unseen force that uniquely equipped him to empathize with and lead a movement centered on empathy and justice. Reflecting on his journey, we see a leader who not only overcame personal adversity but used it to fuel his commitment to change. His story prompts us to think about how mental health struggles can shape leaders who are resilient and deeply attuned to the experiences of others.
Reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s experiences with depression and a documented panic attack, we are called to consider a theme that could transform our understanding of leadership and change-making. Imagine the significant impact on society if we cultivated a generation of leaders and changemakers who understand that one of history's most influential figures faced severe mental health challenges, yet continued to be an extraordinary leader committed to justice and equality.
Redefining Leadership: Embracing Mental Health
This revelation presents an opportunity to normalize mental health struggles among leaders, fostering a new paradigm where these challenges are not seen as weaknesses or failings but as aspects of the human experience that can enhance one's ability to lead with compassion and resilience. It's about shifting the narrative from mental health as an impediment to viewing it as an integral part of a leader's journey.
Incorporating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s mental health narrative into leadership development could broaden our paradigm of what mental health in great leaders looks like. King, a figure of immense historical significance, grappled with depression and anxiety, pointing us towards a leadership model that embraces emotional struggles, self-awareness, and vulnerability as strengths, not flaws. This transformative perspective is key to creating environments where mental well-being and seeking support are integral to effective leadership.
This reimagining of leadership to include mental health and emotional intelligence is pivotal. Leaders who have faced their own mental health challenges often develop a deeper sensitivity to the emotional needs of others, cultivating supportive, empathetic cultures. They tend to be more relatable and foster openness, building trust. This move towards a more compassionate leadership model doesn't just benefit individual well-being; it strengthens teams, organizations, and even movements.
King's Reluctance for Psychiatric Help & Systemic Oppression
King's reluctance to seek psychiatric help, as noted by his biographer Jonathan Eig, was a strategic response to the oppressive surveillance he encountered from the FBI. This decision underlines the extreme adversity King faced, including an assassination attempt, ongoing surveillance, and threats against his family. These challenges, resulting from his role as a Black leader opposing systemic injustices at a time when Jim Crow Laws were prevalent, placed King under significant pressure. His experiences, while highlighting his resilience, also expose the profound impact that systemic oppression can have on mental health.3
This acknowledgment of King's mental health struggles and the pressures he faced is particularly pertinent for Black and brown communities, who continue to bear the brunt of systemic oppression, discrimination, and disproportionate rates of imprisonment and police brutality. The persistent and pervasive nature of these "isms" – racism, classism, and other forms of discrimination – create a relentless, heavy burden that wears on mental health and overall well-being.
Creative Maladjustment: Confronting Oppression in Mental Health
“You who are in the field of psychology have given us a great word. It is the word maladjusted. This word is probably used more than any other word in psychology…the word implies you are declaring that destructive maladjustment should be destroyed. You are saying that all must seek the well-adjusted life in order to avoid neurotic and schizophrenic personalities.
But on the other hand, I am sure that we will recognize that there are some things in our society, some things in our world, to which we should never be adjusted…We must never adjust ourselves to racial discrimination and racial segregation. We must never adjust ourselves to religious bigotry. We must never adjust ourselves to economic conditions that take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few. We must never adjust ourselves to the madness of militarism, and the self-defeating effects of physical violence.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Address to the American Psychological Association, September 1, 1967
In the face of such adversity, King's response was not just one of endurance but of transformative thinking. His concept of "creative maladjustment," presented in his keynote speech to the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1967, offers a profound framework for understanding this response. King argued that instead of adjusting to the systemic inequalities and injustices of society, we should strive to creatively maladjust. He encouraged us to reject the normalization of inequality and instead to continually expose injustice. This stance, he believed, could lead us from "the bleak and desolate midnight of man's inhumanity to man, into the bright and glittering daybreak of freedom and justice."
King's personal experiences with mental health, including his battles with severe depression, deeply influenced his philosophy. He viewed being maladjusted to certain societal norms not as a psychological weakness but as a necessary stand against oppressive and unjust systems. His perspective suggests that our mental health is closely tied to the societal context we live in, emphasizing the importance of intentional non-conformity as a form of resistance and a catalyst for social change.
This approach to mental health and social justice underlines the interconnectedness of individual well-being and societal structures. King's philosophy encourages a broader understanding of mental health, urging us to consider how societal factors play a significant role in shaping our psychological state. His legacy in this area continues to inspire discussions about mental health, oppression, and the necessity of standing against societal injustices. 4 5
Creative Maladjustment: Beyond Individual Healing to Social Responsibility
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s concept of creative maladjustment offers a profound insight into the relationship between personal psychological struggles and broader societal forces. It's not just about recognizing the interplay between these elements but also serves as a call to collective action. King's perspective brings to light how mental distress often reflects deeper societal issues like poverty, racism, transphobia, and gender discrimination. This understanding challenges us to rethink traditional mental health approaches that typically focus on individuals being medicated and conforming to societal norms, urging us to consider how these societal norms might contribute to further mental illness.6
King's philosophy goes beyond individual healing, advocating for a communal responsibility to address and rectify the societal structures that cause mental anguish and mental illness. He proposes that the journey to mental wellness is deeply connected with the journey towards social equity and justice. Particularly for leaders from marginalized groups, mental health challenges often stem from or are exacerbated by experiences of systemic discrimination and oppression. King emphasizes that overcoming these struggles is not a solitary pursuit but a shared journey, calling for collective efforts to dismantle oppressive systems at their roots.
Advocating for creative maladjustment, King underscores the power of channeling personal adversities into a broader fight for social change. This perspective reframes mental health struggles as catalysts for empathy, understanding, and action, shifting the focus from individual adjustment to a commitment to community driven collective action. Embracing this philosophy means recognizing the inseparable link between mental health and the pursuit of a more equitable and just society. It places the responsibility of challenging and changing systemic injustices as a shared endeavor, essential for the well-being of individuals and the health of our communities, organizations, and movements.
Until next time, let's all strive to live in a manner that honors Dr. King's legacy and continue to creatively maladjust towards a world that upholds the dignity and worth of every individual.
Thank you, dear friends, for honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr today. As always, don't just take my word for it; seek silence, and listen to yourself.
Michelle & Moral Health
Reflect. Write. Transform: Narrative Medicine
Take a closer look at the artwork below and allow the feelings it evokes to wash over you. What memories and stories does it bring to mind?
Take three minutes to reflect and jot down your narrative. Whether you choose to express your thoughts in a journal or share them in the comments, the critical thing is that you take the time to consider the art and what it signifies to you.
Tell a story about a time when you conformed to a societal norm that you later realized was not at all normal. How did you come to this realization, and what did you do differently afterward?
https://www.wnyc.org/story/wnyc-apollo-theater-present-inconvenient-king-was-mlk-woke
https://www.amazon.com/King-Life-Jonathan-Eig/dp/0374279292
https://www.accessinst.org/blog/martin-luther-king-jr-and-creative-maladjustment
https://think.nd.edu/creative-maladjustment-refusing-to-adjust-to-injustice/
https://www.accessinst.org/blog/martin-luther-king-jr-and-creative-maladjustment
I didn’t know this about Dr King. Thank you!