Violet of a Deeper Hue – Mental Health in Coming-of-age Counter-Narratives

There is a correlation between racial tensions and mental health issues experienced by Black women protagonists in coming-of-age fiction. Novels such as The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams both have Black women protagonists that experience racialized encounters and deal with subsequent mental health issues, whether they be outwardly expressed or more covert. The Hate U Give is set in high school, while Queenie is set post-college. Very few coming-of-age novels feature college-aged individuals, despite the fact that the themes of identity formation, independence, and sense of belonging are especially relevant to this age demographic. My short story, “Violet of a Deeper Hue,” is a coming-of-age narrative that explores the identity, belonging, and mental health of a college student. “Violet of a Deeper Hue” follows the journey of a young Black woman named Monet, who transfers from an ethnically diverse community college in Delaware to a predominantly white institution in Connecticut. At the fictional Madison Glenwood University, Monet finds herself navigating the unfamiliar social environment of upper-middle class white students. She achieves her goal of joining their award-winning dance team but regularly faces micro-aggressions from her teammates and struggles to fit in. The mistreatment she faces impacts her mental health, leading to imposter syndrome, anxiety, and panic attacks. “Violet of a Deeper Hue”ims to explore mental health and racialized encounters in coming-of-age narratives through the perspective of a college-aged Black woman protagonist.
Keywords: Young Adult Fiction (YA), Coming-of-age, Mental Health, Race, Gender, Belonging

Hello,
My name is Sally Deen and I will be presenting my creative thesis “Violet of a Deeper Hue: Mental Health in Coming-of-Age Counter-Narratives” written under the guidance of Professor Alexia Arthurs.

My project examines the correlation between racial tensions and mental health issues experienced by Black women protagonists in coming-of-age fiction.
I argue that the mental health of Black women protagonists in coming-of-age fiction is impacted by the micro-aggressions they experience, resulting in panic attacks, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior.

Race is often an important component of identity formation for Black women protagonists.
Not only can counter-narratives act as a platform for exploring the mental health of Black women protagonists but they can also benefit the mental health of Black women readers.

“Violet of a Deeper Hue” follows the journey of a young Black woman named Monet, who transfers from an ethnically diverse community college in Delaware to a predominantly white institution in Connecticut. At the fictional Madison Glenwood University, Monet finds herself navigating the unfamiliar social environment of upper-middle class white students. She achieves her goal of joining their award-winning dance team but regularly faces micro-aggressions from her teammates and struggles to fit in. The mistreatment she faces impacts her mental health, leading to imposter syndrome, anxiety, and panic attacks.

The following is an excerpt from the beginning of the story.
All that’s missing to complete my dorm decor is a vision board. My theme is pink. I have a lot of pastel pinks, from my comforter, to my desk lamp, to my posters. But I have a few items of deeper shades here and there; like the magenta of my throw pillows. Once complete, the vision board will add to my motif. The inspirational quotes are all typed onto pink backgrounds.
Soft life—-a life of ease, comfort, and intentional happiness.
Girl, you already have what it takes!
The top left corner of the board features a picture of Beyoncé’s Coachella performance. I dream of dancing on tour with her one day. Near the bottom right is the title card of Shake It Up. I had already been in ballet, jazz, and hip hop lessons at the community center since I was five but watching Cece and Rocky dance on Shake It Up as a kid cemented my desire to be a professional dancer. The center of the collage is the iconic Gabrielle Union Bring It On Picture. My new roommate and her parents arrive in the midst of my manifestation chaos. They’re dressed straight out of a J Crew catalog, in various combinations of tweed, denim, and gingham. I can hardly believe they aren’t mannequins.
“You must be Monet! I’m Reece!” says my roommate. Reece has almost gray eyes.
“Hi! It’s nice to meet you!” I stand and reach my hand out for a shake.
Reece goes straight in for a hug. She reaches a hand into my hair and twirls one of my curls around a finger before stepping away. “Oh wow! Your hair is so springy!”
“Thanks,” I say even though it doesn’t feel like a compliment.

Monet starts this scene off hopeful about her future at MGU but when she meets her new roommate she is hit with a microaggression. This sets the tone for the subtle types of racial encounters Monet will experience while at Glenwood.

A girl bumps into me, nearly knocking me to the ground.
“Watch it!” she says.
You bumped into me! I want to say. Instead, I stand there with my mouth agape.
“She’s probably just some dumb sports recruit,” her friend says. They glare at me as they walk past.
I rush out of the crowd, finally breaking out through the sides. I gulp for air but my lungs remain empty. I double over, trying to catch my breath.
“Are you ok?”
I turn around and Erin’s standing behind me. I shake my head no.
Her brows are furrowed and her mouth sits in a straight line. I must look as bad as I feel. “Here, try this,” she says. “In for four counts, hold for four, out for four.” Erin demonstrates the breathing as she gives me the counts.
Surprisingly, it helps. After the first couple cycles, I’m able to stand upright.
Erin looks a little less concerned now but she continues to guide me through my breathing.
We follow the pattern for five more counts. “Thanks,” I say once I’ve fully calmed down. “Where’d you learn that?”
“I’m a psych major. I could’ve used a Black women therapist when I was going through depression so I decided to be one.”
“That’s really cool.”
“Yeah, I know.” Erin flips her braids. “Now, let’s get some shaved ice before they run out of blue raspberry!” She guides me to the shaved ice truck with a gentle hand on my shoulder.

Monet experiences a panic attack due to a racialized encounter and Erin helps her through it. This scene counteracts the stigma against mental health in the Black community as well as the stereotype of the strong Black woman.

In conclusion, coming-of-age counter-narratives provide a rich portrayal of the unique struggles POC experience in adolescence and early adulthood. These narratives are useful tools for young WOC to identify with protagonists and use their stories as guidance for their own coming-of-age journeys as well as help non-WOC understand their struggles.