The National Black Justice Coalition Mourns the Death of Ian Alexander Jr.
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) mourns the loss of Ian Alexander Jr., son of Regina King and Ian Alexander Sr., who died by suicide. Ian was a DJ who turned 26 on Wednesday, January 19. King, who was very close with her son, said in a statement that he was “such a bright light who cared deeply about the happiness of others.” She and Ian have matching tattoos that read “unconditional love” in Aramaic.
Camika Shelby, NBJC’s Black Youth Advocate and Ambassador, said her heart goes out to Regina King. What happened is a reminder that tragedy can grip you no matter where you are in life.
“I don’t understand why when suicide happens, the first thing some rush to do is to blame the family. It’s sickening,” said Shelby, who lost her son Nigel by suicide. “I would tell [Regina] to be strong, don’t blame yourself, and take it one day at a time. You will probably never fully get over the loss of your baby, but it will get easier to process with time. Continue to move forward. Don’t let his death consume you, instead allow his life to fuel you.”
The National Black Justice Coalition continues to ring the alarm regarding increases in suicide among Black children, youth, and young adults. It’s important to reduce stigma and increase access to care. You can read more in the Ring The Alarm Report.
If you or someone you know is struggling and need immediate support, please reach out to BlackLine, a call or text hotline that provides peer support, counseling, and witnessing for those most impacted by systemic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black femme lens at 1-800-604-5841.
NBJC is partnering with the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to directly connect Black LGBTQ+/SGL young people to free individual counseling sessions for stress and anxiety. The program will open to new participants on February 15. If you are interested in learning more about our mental health work contact us here.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ian Alexander Jr.’s family, friends, and loved ones during this time.