Hip hop artist goes viral teaching young boys the importance of emotional intelligence

As much as basic math and science are essential for children's education, teachers and parents also focus on instilling mental health awareness. Understanding emotional intelligence is vital for children to grow up to be stable-minded adults who can handle life's challenges well. Spreading one such powerful message, hip-hop artist and Emmy award winner Devine Carama–who goes by @devinecarama on TikTok–explains the importance of emotional intelligence to young minds. His viral video gained over 1 million views and people laud him for teaching the children the most valuable lesson that is the need of the hour.  

In this video, Carama had one objective, "Teaching young boys about emotional intelligence." He is also a popular community activist and motivational speaker from Kentucky. Carama seemed to be addressing a group of young boys in what appeared to be a classroom in the video. "Guys, do me a favor, okay? I'm gonna pour this into this glass. And I want you to tell me when to stop," said the educator and started pouring water from one glass to another. As he kept on filling up the glass and the water started overflowing, the boys shouted, "Stop," "Stop it." Assuring the concerned boys that he was going to clean up the water that overflowed on the tables, Carama began his serious lesson, saying, "Fellas, one conversation. All eyes up here."

"This right here represents us. And what happens is we take in everything that we experience throughout the day, right?" explained the hip-hop artist and added, "But because we, as young men, keep it in. We don't let it out. We don't talk about it." The activist spoke about how young boys try to look and be tough by keeping their emotions inside themselves. Talking about the consequence of it, Carama said, "What eventually happens? You overflow, we overflow and we make a mess." By "mess," Carama meant the ugly display of anger and frustration and said, "A mess could be we cuss the teacher out. A mess could be we got in a fight with our friend."

As a solution, the motivational speaker said that rather than hiding their emotions, children must voice out their feelings every day. "So as young men, we have to find safe places that we can talk about what we are going through and what we're feeling," explained Carama. The kids listening attentively affirmed that they got the point of Carama's little demonstration and assured him that it made sense. "You all did a great job today," said the musician and ended his lesson comically saying, "Now clean this water up, man."

People on the platform found the video inspiring and loved Carama's innovative way of teaching such a thing to school kids. "I wish someone had taught me about emotional intelligence when I was in junior high. You're doing amazing work, man!" commented @joshh8511. "Love this. As a mom of 4 boys, I worry about men's mental health. Peer pressure overrides mom's advice and guidance and it's scary," @splooshwaffle pointed out. "Don't forget to explain a safe space! Because people will fool you into thinking you're safe, but they just want to use what you say against you," wrote @thenaturallykinky. "This should be a universal standard in schools," wrote @biancabettss.