Charles was a Rap artist among his many talents. His notebooks and music were his salvation while he was alive and probably the only reason he lived until 20.
When he was away at a therapeutic boarding school, they did take his notebooks which made me angry. Writing is therapeutic. I don’t hate the school but I didn’t think taking his writing away because they didn’t like what it said was the right move. There were many good people who went there and worked there. It saved lives. Others didn’t make it. Some still struggle.
Charles was clearly sick and tired of being sick. When I listen to this rap, I Don’t Wanna Be a Patient, I hear things from how he saw it, his perspective. Of course, we were trying to save his life, save him from going down the path he ultimately went down.
I do think it illustrates a teen’s frustration with the mental health system and how long it takes to get help and for things to work. No wonder they self medicate. Definitely emotional, brilliant and heartbreaking.
From my heart to yours.
Charles first LP on SoundCloud
