Many of us grew up watching Malcolm-Jamal Warner, iconically known as Theo Huxtable, but also so much more.
He was the cool big brother, the thoughtful cousin, the friend who always came through. Through his work and presence, he helped shape how we saw Black boyhood, manhood, and excellence.
His passing last month left so many of us stunned, grieving, and remembering just how much he meant to our lives and our community.
Yesterday was National Grief Awareness Day, a moment to acknowledge not just personal loss, but the heavy, collective grief that so many of us carry every day.
We’re grieving Malcolm, the lives stolen by police violence, moments, people, and versions of ourselves that didn’t survive the weight of it all.
But through it all, we’re still here.
At 1M4, we believe grief is a part of shielding the village, just like joy, protection, and mental health care. That’s why we created The Right Response, a growing directory of culturally grounded crisis response tools, healing resources, and community support designed to help us survive and feel at the same time.
Use the directory and share with others. But most importantly, give yourself permission to feel it all the sadness, the anger, the ache. Because taking care of your heart is part of the fight, too.
“I see protest as a genuine means of encouraging someone to feel the inconsistencies, the horror of the lives we are living. Social protest is saying that we do not have to live this way. If we feel deeply, and we encourage ourselves and others to feel deeply, we will find the germ of our answers to bring about change..”
— Audre Lorde
What We’re Reading
This month Lil Nas X was arrested during a mental health emergency. Instead of care, he received handcuffs and four felony charges due to officers saying he charged at them. We have not seen the bodycam footage which leads us to believe it likely does not align with officers reports.
Nonetheless, this is one of the many reasons we created The Right Response directory. Our goal is to ensure everyone, celebrity and all, get the right response to their health emergency and avoid additional harm or incarceration.
We need your help in making sure your family and circle know about and use the directory
What We’re Saying/Sharing
Watch what Makeda shared about Lil Nas X’s ordeal.
This is an important message and your help/voice is needed now to share our resources with your network.
Join us today. We can’t wait to meet and share with you.
(don’t let the ‘request to join’ button scare you. We’re just really careful about keeping our spaces safe)
Your Expertise is Needed!
We’re completely revamping The Right Response Directory and need your input to ensure it meets our community’s needs.
This critical resource connects you to alternative first-response programs offering compassionate support through peer responders, clinicians, and trained EMTs for calls like welfare checks, noise complaints, traffic incidents, and mental health crises.
Your feedback is vital for us to improve. Please take a few minutes to complete our confidential survey. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
A Mental Health Tip For You
Put the cape down, Sis, and breathe.
Set a “done for today” point before you hit the wall. Instead of pushing through exhaustion, practice identifying what’s enough for now. Whether it’s one email, one errand, or one deep breath, naming your “enough” gives your nervous system a chance to reset and remember: rest is productive, too.
Try this: Each morning, name one task that, if completed, will feel like enough. Anything beyond that is extra, not expected.
Spread Some Blessings!
The consequences of police violence extend far beyond the loss of life. For families affected, it’s the loss of income, the sacrifice of basic necessities, and the start of a high-cost legal fight. If you have the capacity, consider donating to 1M4. Proceeds help support impacted families and sustain the work of 1M4 toward ending police violence for good.
As we wrap up August, navigating grief, holding joy, and carrying the weight of all that this season brings has been important. Especially for our Black caregivers, mothers, aunties, and community builders: you deserve rest, replenishment, and support, too.
We’re building the tools and care networks our communities need to stay safe, grounded, and alive, but we can’t do it alone. If you believe in mental health care that centers our people, in crisis response that protects rather than punishes, and in collective healing, please consider making a donation.
Every dollar helps shield the village.
We are committed to covering 4000 families in our lifesaving resources by the end of this year. Join 1M4’s private membership community today and shield the village closest to you.
Let’s do this! Shields up!
On Tuesday September 23, 2025, an important Supreme Court filing will be made on behalf of Xzavier Hill in Washington DC. This marks a powerful step in the fight for justice, challenging the limits of qualified immunity and uplifting the right to be heard, even when representing oneself (pro se).
This filing is about so much more than one case — it’s about accountability, access to justice, and shedding light on the barriers everyday people face in the legal system. Your presence can help amplify this crucial moment.
If you’re able to attend the filing in Washington DC, please fill out the form below. Also advise the team…
* If you need transportation (especially from VA, MD, or DC)
* If you’d like to join the luncheon afterward
The luncheon will cover:
The filing itself
What it means to file pro se
A deeper conversation on qualified immunity
Please RSVP by **September 12th** so adequate plans can be made
Let’s come together to support Xzavier and push back against systems that deny justice. Your presence matters.
In August and beyond, help raise awareness of alternatives to police for mental health emergencies. Share the Right Response directory with your local community, snap a few pictures, and let us know about it. We would love to highlight you and your advocacy in our newsletter and social media pages. Share your advocacy results HERE. Whether you shared with two people or 200 people, each life matters.
We are celebrating you as the trusted voice in your community!
Any questions? Simply hit “reply.”
Ready to join in shielding your community? Click HERE
Ok so… we’re on TikTok now! Follow, engage, and rep 1M4 over there. We’re doing our best to reach the people.
Help some Sistas out!
You Got Your 1M4 Merch Yet?
Visit the 1M4 merch store to make sure you’re representing at court support, protests, or in line at your favorite coffee spot. We want to see YOU in your 1M4 gear. Every purchase goes directly to funding the work of 1M4 increasing access to safety and wellness.
