Ajuma centers his efforts on the mental well-being of Black youth.
Ajuma M., a licensed psychotherapist, utilizes his life experiences and natural talents to prioritize the mental well-being of young Black men, guiding them through the challenges of the world. Additionally, he is a motivational speaker and author with a global presence, having traveled extensively. As a hobby, he delves into learning new languages, enriching his global perspectives.
Becoming a role model
Ajuma, raised in a household with five siblings and without a father figure, navigated both public and parochial education before pursuing degrees in child development and psychology at Central State University. Following a graduate degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, he became a counselor at Harris-Stowe State University. During this period, Ajuma embraced the Nation of Islam, finding pride and clarity in his life's path.
In 1988, while at Harris-Stowe, he initiated the Association of African-American Role Models program, mentoring young men aged 9-19, particularly focusing on the violence and drug activity prevalent in the Laclede Town housing complex. Although acknowledging he couldn't replace their fathers, he pledged to be a positive role model.
The program, extending to include young women, conducted weekly meetings, retreats, and visits to historically black colleges and universities. Notable figures, including Muhammad Ali, were invited to discuss employment, survival skills in a racially-polarized world, and personal experiences of incarceration. Over two decades, the program witnessed substantial growth.
Ajuma notes that many program participants have become educators, administrators, superintendents, and attorneys. However, he expresses heartbreak over those lost to prison and gang violence.
“The nature of the beast is some will be lost, including those for whom you have the greatest aspirations, but you will save more than you lose.”
- Ajuma Muhammad
Private practice today
For nearly three decades, Ajuma has dedicated his private practice to male development and trauma. Over the years, he notes a shift in the typical age of his clients, transitioning from early teens to those as young as pre-kindergarten age.
With the onset of the COVID pandemic, his practice transitioned from in-home to virtual therapy sessions. Although observing environmental influences on a person's well-being is more challenging, virtual sessions effectively eliminate potential barriers like weather, transportation, and childcare.
Expressing concern, Ajuma emphasizes that the digital landscape may exacerbate feelings of isolation in children and cultivate an expectation of constant entertainment. He highlights the impact of digital tools on education and social skills, noting instances where clients provide brief, one-word responses, complicating the exploration of underlying traumas.
“I have to ask them 50 questions to get one answer”, he continues, “everything is ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ or ‘I don’t know.’”
Representation
Ajuma says therapy was a taboo subject in the Black community thirty years ago, “Most [Black] people thought therapy was for crazy White people. Now they know that therapy is for all people. It’s a viable outlet to help you maintain a sense of equilibrium given whatever you might be going through.”
Ajuma tells Black men that stress and anxiety is among their top killers and leads to an inordinate rate of prostate cancer among them. He says, “You take into consideration the stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, environmental drama, the racial polarization—all of those components—which is what we call ‘Life.’ If you’re not careful, you’re not going to be here.” Ajuma recommends daily exercise, meditation, prayer, rest, and hydration. He encourages journaling to purge troubling anxiety.
Everyone is the average of the five people they are around, Ajuma says, and people who are toxic and pull from you need to be removed. He advises clients to find five “people of influence that add value to your life and support you emotionally.”
Presently, African American psychotherapists make up less than five percent of the total. Ajuma underscores the diversity within the therapy profession, as well as in the fields of teaching and medicine. He emphasizes the significance of establishing a strong connection with a professional, highlighting that the selection process should prioritize compatibility rather than solely focusing on racial matching.
Ajuma says, “The world’s in the middle of a mental health crisis right now.” The isolation, depression, and uncertainty of the worldwide shutdown has resulted in all the problems that go with those issues: rises in suicide, domestic violence, and employment insecurity.
“All health begins with mental health. Mental health matters.”
- Ajuma Muhammad
Interview By Robert Doyle and Kym Radford