The Psychological Cost of Gun Violence on Black Men | Grief, Trauma & Survival

56 that's the number I want you to remember according to the CDC black men have the highest homicide rate of any male racial or ethnic group in America 56 deaths for every hundred thousand black men but there's something those numbers can't measure what happens to the black men who are still here because when death surrounds you long enough something happens Psychology calls it habituation.

When repeated exposure to something begins to change the way we respond to it.

But regardless of our response, regardless of how desensitized we may become.

What we're experiencing isn't normal.

On December 14th, 2025, Gavin Thompson died.

But.

Today's conversation isn't about how Gavin died.

It's about what gun violence is doing to those who are still living.

The families, friends, the grief, the trauma, the fear.

And the things black men carry that we don't always have words for.

And to understand that, I'm sitting down with someone who knew Gavin before the headlines.

His close friend, James Covington.

Cold nights Broken dreams and whiskey tears Still fighting battles I've been caring for years If you listen close You can hear the hurt in me.

Tell me your story.

It's chopped by teeth.