The Miseducation of Thomas Lee Crockett
A Mental Health Love Letter to the Black Community
By Marriage and Family Therapist Thomas Lee
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COMING JUNE 30, 2026 Mental Health / Black Psychology / Memoir / LGBTQ+ / Self-Help "If I knew then what I know now, I would have probably been able to cultivate my Black identity, protect my self-esteem, minimize the amount of racial trauma that I experienced, and minimize a good chunk of my anxiety. I wish I had known that one day I’d be on the other side of all that darkness and helplessness. I wish I had known that one day I’d have the tools, and I’d be powerful, and I’d be where I am today, sharing that power with you." |
Mixing the candid storytelling of George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue with the accessible and intersectional psychology of Dr. Rheeda Walker's The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health, Marriage and Family Therapist Thomas Lee is on a mission to fill a space on the shelf that's still way too empty: mental health education for the Black community.
This isn’t some abstract psychology textbook written by an old white man a hundred years ago—this is therapy by, about, and for the Black community of today. In this guidebook/memoir, Lee weaves together individual wellness, family dynamics, and the social/historical context that makes mental health in the Black community both unique and particularly important. Each chapter blends mental health terms, cultural references, and lessons learned from Lee’s own life: growing up in Mississippi in a toxic family, losing his mother to a long battle with cancer, working in spaces steeped in white supremacy, wrestling with homophobia and misogyny to be his authentic self, and eventually finding his place in all of it—as a mental health therapist determined to bring love, hope, and wellness to the Black community.
Topics include: Family dynamics; Toxic masculinity; Generational trauma; Systemic racism; Microaggressions in social, academic, and work spaces; Grief & loss; Mental illness; LGBTQIA+ & homophobia; Gender & sexuality; Anxiety; Depression
This isn’t some abstract psychology textbook written by an old white man a hundred years ago—this is therapy by, about, and for the Black community of today. In this guidebook/memoir, Lee weaves together individual wellness, family dynamics, and the social/historical context that makes mental health in the Black community both unique and particularly important. Each chapter blends mental health terms, cultural references, and lessons learned from Lee’s own life: growing up in Mississippi in a toxic family, losing his mother to a long battle with cancer, working in spaces steeped in white supremacy, wrestling with homophobia and misogyny to be his authentic self, and eventually finding his place in all of it—as a mental health therapist determined to bring love, hope, and wellness to the Black community.
Topics include: Family dynamics; Toxic masculinity; Generational trauma; Systemic racism; Microaggressions in social, academic, and work spaces; Grief & loss; Mental illness; LGBTQIA+ & homophobia; Gender & sexuality; Anxiety; Depression
Praise for Miseducation
"The Miseducation of Thomas Lee Crockett is part memoir, part how-to, and 100% a love letter to the Black community. This book is a hopeful tool for helping people of all backgrounds conquer their fears, traumas, prejudices, and the stigma surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community and mental health struggles and treatments. Lee expertly weaves his own multi-layered and intense story with his professional expertise as a therapist, resulting in a compassionate guide for all those recovering from historical, racial, childhood, or experience-based trauma."
–Telaina Eriksen, author of the Amazon best-seller and winner of the Bisexual Book Award for Nonfiction, Unconditional: A Guide to Loving and Supporting Your LGBTQ Child
"This work stands out for its depth, compassion, and clarity. Thomas Nabors approaches the subject of Black trauma with a rare balance of honesty and care, naming painful historical and contemporary realities while also honoring the strength, resilience, and humanity within Black communities. Rather than reducing trauma to statistics or abstract theory, the writing centers real experiences and the intergenerational impact of systemic oppression in a way that is both accessible and profoundly meaningful.
I strongly recommend this work to educators, caregivers, youth advocates, and anyone seeking to better understand the historical and present-day forces that shape the lives of Black children, families, and communities. It is an important contribution to the ongoing conversations around trauma, equity, and healing."
–Marci Halili Akoma, director of the Yucatan Giving Outreach Youth Crew after fifty years in education
"This book contains a wealth of knowledge, [delving] deeply into both the meanings and symptoms [of mental health], as well as real-life depictions. But Lee also explores how being both Black and gay colors these diagnoses, how both of these identities shape a person’s experience due to systems of oppression and interpersonal prejudices. You really feel how all these things happening at once shape a person’s experience, their ability to get help, and others' perceptions of whether they deserve help. Lee is incredibly vulnerable in this work; he shares several personal stories, some of which are traumatic. In addition to information about mental health in the Black community, you will also get a wealth of knowledge on how systems of oppression affect the mental health of Black people. This book was excellently written, incredibly informative, and enlightening."
--Jessica Drew, Licensed Professional Counselor
–Telaina Eriksen, author of the Amazon best-seller and winner of the Bisexual Book Award for Nonfiction, Unconditional: A Guide to Loving and Supporting Your LGBTQ Child
"This work stands out for its depth, compassion, and clarity. Thomas Nabors approaches the subject of Black trauma with a rare balance of honesty and care, naming painful historical and contemporary realities while also honoring the strength, resilience, and humanity within Black communities. Rather than reducing trauma to statistics or abstract theory, the writing centers real experiences and the intergenerational impact of systemic oppression in a way that is both accessible and profoundly meaningful.
I strongly recommend this work to educators, caregivers, youth advocates, and anyone seeking to better understand the historical and present-day forces that shape the lives of Black children, families, and communities. It is an important contribution to the ongoing conversations around trauma, equity, and healing."
–Marci Halili Akoma, director of the Yucatan Giving Outreach Youth Crew after fifty years in education
"This book contains a wealth of knowledge, [delving] deeply into both the meanings and symptoms [of mental health], as well as real-life depictions. But Lee also explores how being both Black and gay colors these diagnoses, how both of these identities shape a person’s experience due to systems of oppression and interpersonal prejudices. You really feel how all these things happening at once shape a person’s experience, their ability to get help, and others' perceptions of whether they deserve help. Lee is incredibly vulnerable in this work; he shares several personal stories, some of which are traumatic. In addition to information about mental health in the Black community, you will also get a wealth of knowledge on how systems of oppression affect the mental health of Black people. This book was excellently written, incredibly informative, and enlightening."
--Jessica Drew, Licensed Professional Counselor
About the AuthorTHOMAS LEE is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Thomas received a Master of Arts degree in mental health counseling and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. His clinical experience includes working as a therapist within residential treatment facilities and private practice and as a clinical manager of a nonprofit organization.
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