Dear Self by Sundiata Chaka Pollard
Medium: Copy of original pencil and pen drawing
Dimensions: 8.5 x 11
Image description: Sketch drawing of a face looking at the viewer. Behind the face the paper is lined, like notebook paper, and writing covers each line. The writing reads: “Dear Self, I am writing this to you, to ask, how do you see youself? How do you see me? Dear Mental Health, Can we talk about you and I— Dear suicide, Why me. Why can’t no one see me? Dear Schizophrenia, Is it me or is it you? Enemy, friend, real or not real. Dear Anxiety, Why can’t I breathe. Dear God, Give me strength now. Dear voices, Shut the fuck up, get out of my head. Dear Family, Is this just me or is it heredity? Dear Criminal, Were you born this way? How did you turn out like this? Dear OCD, It is out of order, everything is out of order. It needs— Dear Mind, Would you mind if we work— Dear Mom ,I’m sorry for all the hurt, pain, and let downs. Dear Therapy, I need some help now, I can’t take it anymore. Dear Drugs, I wanna feel good, I wanna— Dear Reflection, Do you see me as I see you? Dear Allah, I seek refuge in you from the stress, depression, anxiet— Dear Friend, I do not know how to help, but I will liste— Dear Quiet, Your silence is deafening. Dear Soul, Look outside of yourself. Dear Rage, Dear Younger me, Dear Violence, Dear—“