WS Chronicle

By Busta Brown  

In a world where conversations about mental health and personal growth are slowly becoming more inclusive, Kareem Hammond, a talented author, stands out with his book, “The Minds of Men.” This compelling book speaks directly to men seeking comfort and understanding within the mixed emotions of their own thoughts. 

Through his writing, Kareem opens a dialogue about the struggles, vulnerabilities, and experiences that many men face in silence. I used to be one of those men, and it wasn’t until I allowed myself to embrace vulnerability that I found peace of mind and became secure in who I am as Busta Brown. As I read “The Minds of Men,” I admired Kareem’s empathetic and insightful approach, because it’s rooted in his personal experience, cultural wisdom, and a deep understanding of the male mind. 

I sat down for an open and candid Q&A with the native of Saginaw, Michigan, diving deep into the minds of men. Get ready for an insightful conversation. 

What inspired you to write this book about the minds of men? Was there a particular moment or experience in your life that sparked the idea? 

“The main reason for this book being written was at a very young age. I saw the dysfunctions of all of the men in my family. From my grandfathers, uncles, and even my father, I saw how they mentally tried to do things as a man but was not done in good spirits that would help themselves or the family.” 

In your experience, what are some of the most common struggles that men face when seeking comfort and understanding in their thoughts? How can your book help to address these? 

“In my experience most struggles that men deal with are so common and very noticeable. Like pride, masculinity, finance, jobs. But it is the silent struggles that men really face, and they are, to name a few, love, support, emotional struggles of life, and being accepted by people. Most importantly, being appreciated as a man and not being judged for it. My book will show men how to embrace the silent struggles from a mental state of thinking and give opportunities to discover how to deal with the struggles that haunted him most of his life.”  

Do you think there’s a misconception about men’s emotional lives, and if so, how does your book aim to challenge or shift that perception? 

“Yes, one big misconception about men that people really don’t believe, and that is men hurt deeply, and it is never looked into, nor does he know how to speak to anyone that would listen to him. So, he shuts down or holds it in and it never gets dealt with. Again, it is either never addressed or even discussed. A very strong misconception that men do not hurt deeply at times, and we really do. My book expresses deeply on the thought patterns and thinking of a man and his hurts that he for a long time could never express. So, my book has metaphors and transparencies that help the man express his hurts within himself without judgement.”  

Could you talk to us a little bit about the chapter in your book titled “The Young Male Mind”? 

“The young male mind is always prone to false hopes and selfishness. In so many ways the young male mind is taught that it’s better to think and react to negative things instead of positive things. The young male mind is like a sponge – it will absorb whatever it can to get what it needs at that very moment. In today’s world, most young male minds do not understand that most of the negative behaviors are tools that are embraced versus thinking right. The young male mind has to be better addressed and taught from the parents. Which in this day and time, sorry to say, is very lacking.” 

I found your take on the generational male mind intriguing. Tell me more. 

“The generational male mind is that it suffers from men not being in the household. Twenty million plus homes do not have a father in them. This is definitely a generational problem. Drugs, alcohol and having children at a young age is so prevalent and it is only getting worse. Verbal abuse is another major problem that hurts generations as well. But from a mind state it sends signals to that young mind and confuses them and how they view their family dynamics and how the family functions.”  

How do you convince a man who has given up on God, that he needs that connection?   

“Men typically gives up on God because he really thinks that God does not understand him and what he is going through mentally. So, he decides to try and fix it himself and ends up making a mess of things. I always share with men that God is your HELP. He knows exactly what you are going through and he definitely has the answers to your problem. We as men struggle with trust. The male macho pride is something that the man hates to lose because it makes them feel weak. But men need God for your self-well-being and how to guide you through life and how you think. In the Bible in Genesis 1:26, it clearly says that man was created in the image of God. Getting all men to understand that has been the issue, but my book explains that God is our very source. We need him for grace, mercy and support throughout this life as a man.”  

How can one rebuild or strengthen the male mindset for personal growth and emotional well-being? 

“In rebuilding the male mind, we must first identify the damage that has been done to the mind. Once that is established, healing and being able to discuss what happened will be easy to do. The rebuilding piece is where the most work has to be done. Trauma, child abuse and even sexual abuse have to be erased from the mind. This is not easy because it has to be agreed upon by the one that needs the rebuilding of the mind. And the one that has been trusted to help with the rebuilding process of the mind.”  

In your writing, you emphasize the importance of introspection and self-awareness. Can you talk about how this process can help men understand their emotional complexities? 

“Men’s emotional complexities have to be set up like a road map for men. Men need directions on where they are going. Once the emotions have been released, men typically trust at that point. Therefore, they must have clear direction as to how to handle their emotions mentally and to discover ways as to how to channel their emotions with stability and grasping a deeper revelation of their emotional side in them.”  

How do you believe social expectations around masculinity influence how men approach their emotional well-being and mental health? 

“We typically expect men to just go through life without expressing themselves emotionally because we are men. I think differently, I believe that men have taken on the approach that because I am a man, I don’t have to express myself emotionally. Mental health in men has not been dealt with from the capacity of self-care. Our masculinity as men is being used as a mask to hide the real approach, which is that there is a negative influence in men that we don’t need to embrace our well-being and just turn a deaf ear to it. Introspection and emotional support boil down to men just looking for someone to listen to how they feel and their true feelings. And to provide a safe place to really express themselves and the vulnerabilities they face in life.”  

Can you share any specific exercises or practices from the book that you think are particularly effective for men who are looking for clarity and peace in their thoughts? 

“Men who are looking for clarity and peace must understand that self-care and taking the time to shut down the mind and just be. Meaning, take some time and clear your mind of all the cares of the world and let your mind be detoxed. Give yourself some time during the week and just don’t think about your problems, your victories or defeats. Just take some time and clear all thoughts for at least one hour. Just pick a day and do it”. 

How do you think the concept of “solace” varies for men versus women? 

“Solace in men is very different than in women. Men deal with comfort in ways that leave us as men not knowing how to deal with distress issues. Peaceful thoughts in men is a hard thing for men to grab hold too. We think as men that peace of mind is being weak. But it is not; it is truly a way of life that we must get so that we can have peace just as most women obtain quicker than men.”  

What are some challenges or setbacks you had to overcome while writing “The Minds of Men”? 

“I encountered so many setbacks and struggles that almost blinded me from finishing this book. Family, job and even health issues played a major part in the book being completed. I had to persevere through all of the storms that came my way and pushed through. I believe all of the setbacks I had were tailored just for me to see how I would respond to problems and finish the task at hand. And I am so glad I did, and I learned so much in doing it.”  

Do you see your book as part of a larger conversation about mental health and emotional well-being? If so, what role do you hope it will play in shifting the way men think about these topics? 

“I believe that my book, “The Minds of Men,” sparks a deep conversation in many settings and places as it pertains to how men think. And also, how women can get a better understanding of how the men in their lives think. I know that my book has already shifted the minds of so many people and how they may think it may be a bit challenging. But reading my book, they have seen so many transformations that have helped their thinking.  

What was the most rewarding feedback you’ve received from readers so far?  

“The most rewarding feedback I have received from people that have read my book was how the transparency I took in writing the book has helped them to look at themselves differently and how they think. People really enjoyed how I shared my own personal reasons and situations that I have gone through, which helped them to be honest with themselves in telling the truth about where they are mentally and needing to fix it.”  

Do you plan to explore further topics related to mental health and emotional growth for men? 

“I definitely have something in the works to help men further their lives and thinking to a whole new level. I have recently created a Male Mentoring Business called, H A M MINDS LLC (How Are Men Minds). It is in the construction stages and websites, bookings and links to my book will be all in one entity.” 

My Phenomenal Person of the Week is Kareem Hammond Sr. For more info and to contact Kareem, send an email to Menofimage13@gmail.com or call 704-707-9143. ”The Minds of Men” can be purchased on Amazon.