In Conversation with Rianna Walcott and Samara Linton, Authors of The Colour of Madness

Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with authors Rianna Walcott and Samara Linton. Their latest publication, The Colour of Madness, is a powerful anthology that highlights the voices of those often ignored by the UK mental health system inspired by their own experiences of mental health difficulties and the desire to have the voices of people of colour brought into the mental health conservation. The authors refer to a ‘valley of neglect’ for people of colour when accessing and receiving mental health help. The book is meant to speak to this gap. 

The book is uniquely divided into colours. The authors have two reasons for this: first, to represent the light spectrum, and to make a statement about how mental health is very white washed. White light is divided into the 7 colours of the rainbow. The imagery of all these colours coming together to create a collective whole is powerful, and represents the intention of the book well. The second reason for dividing the book in colors is due to the strong emotions different colours evoke. By organizing the novel this way, it creates a safe and accessible space where the reader can choose which colour depending on how they may be feeling. 

While deciding on a title for the book, they asked a focus group of Black people how they felt about the term “madness/mad”. Many felt strongly about reclaiming the word, and felt like they could relate to ‘mad’ over more medicalized terms. It was also a tip of the hat towards the Mad Pride Movement, which fought to acknowledge and highlight mental health as a part of the normal human experience. Mental health is not something separate from life, nor should individuals with mental health difficulties be seen as ‘other’. 

In the book, the stories, narratives, and art speak to different members of the community and make them feel connected to something bigger than themselves. When asked about the power of storytelling, Linton recalls a James Baldwin quote, “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read”. The Colour of Madness has been a source of hope for many, demonstrating how shared storytelling can be very powerful. 

We wrap up our conversations by discussing the entries closest to each of the author’s heart. Walcott shys away from the answer, saying it is hard to pick a favourite. However, she recalls Minying Huang’s poem ‘To Braise the Belly Right’, which was a great source of inspiration for her own piece, ‘The Depression Cookbook’. Linton on the other hand often returns to Self-Discovery by Mica Montana. She turns to this particular entry due to how sanitized the conversation of mental health is in the mainstream. Montana’s piece is about an experience beyond what we might consider reality, and captures beautifully a pivoting life experience from psychosis. 

The Colour of Madness is a gift for all of us with experiences of mental health. Walcott and Linton dedicate the book, “For those past and present who were not able to tell their stories. For those who told their stories but were not heard. For those who are steeling themselves, waiting for their moment to speak”. Through the array of technicoloured lights, we feel seen and hopeful.

This blog post was authored by Samantha Groulx, former HBGI intern, and Maureen Gikonyo from HBGI’s Lived Experience Council.