Mental Roots - Spoken Word Narrated Animation video transcript

[Upbeat, modern music]

[Young man talking in a casual manner, slowly fades out]

So yeah you know how it is  growing up in the ends. I was...

For a while now I've been trying to trace the roots of my mental struggle. Maybe it didn't start with me, blame it on my family history and the pressure on

me to change our destiny. All mom and dad wanted was an opportunity, right?

A aiming sky high but was it worth the flight because over here, it's like we're wrong and they're right. It's like a man on our side has to work twice as hard just to keep on the lights. All this weight I'm carrying on my head, just trying to keep my family proud, I guess it's no wonder that today I woke with some crazy level of dread. 

I've gradually sunk into this deep pit of pessimism. I've never been so shocked in my life. Maybe this time I can't do this on my own. Should I ask for help? Huh, who am I kidding?!

You see in a family like mine, pain is normalized. All I hear is you're suffering ain't as much as mine. Oh, so I'm just supposed to follow the family line of pretending I'm fine.

[Young man rapping over rap beats]

When mans fit these bars, imma hit you in the heart. Once you uppercut punchlines, gonna get fraud, you boys play your part

[Rapping fades, narrator beings talking again]

You're all trapped in the same cocoon and friends get jealous if you try to fly because where we come from, you're conditioned to be in survival mode. We're all sick but pretending we're well. The ones I thought were my bros hate it when I expose the tears that I now cry because that reminds them of themselves and the demons they hide. 

So they cower behind a mask of pride, push me to the side and frantically pursue the glamorized stereotypes of a hustler's life. You know, whatever it takes to  

escape the insecurity in our minds because anywhere, apart from where we are is paradise. Right?

But you want to know what's more toxic than the stereotypes of people like us? I'll tell you... it's a guy like me, fed with self-hatred, slowly losing hope.

[High-pitched sound and screen turns black] 

[The voice of an older man talking to a group. Music slowly starts filtering in]

Wow, well done for sharing that! So, considering what we've been chatting about...

[Voice of the older man fades out and the narrator begins talking again]