Meet Frederick Murphy | Mental Health Therapist & Documentarian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Frederick Murphy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Frederick, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The opportunity to utilize my creative desires in story telling via my own independent platform was to good to pass up. I think oftentimes when people receive degrees in certain fields and/or have been working in a single field for a long time, it can create this monolith overtone which doesn’t have to be the case. So to not fall into that category, ( which isn’t a bad thing, it’s just not for me) i created something that could constantly evlove and create a different type of gratification.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I am a Mental Health Therapist and Documentarian. I’ve been blessed to marry my technical skill and passion into a gratifying union. There’s a shortage of African American male licensed therapist, so we tend to become bombarded with referrals which can become a blessing and challenge all in one. The problem is, there’s only one you and a whole community of people who need you.

It became apparent in my life i needed created a balance that focused on what i considered self care. Collecting oral histories and presenting on various topics related to history created just that. I’ve been blessed to travel the country, screening my films and providing presentations that focus on historical trauma, culture and the need to preserve “unheralded” history.

I learned the hard way how all work and no play can lead to a monotonous life which didn’t fit my personality. Recognizing that you’re human and can’t be everything for everybody is a tough pill to swallow when your driven by the care for humanity, but self care is MANDATORY!

The History Before Us brand is for any and everyone interested in understanding and learning history from a non antiquated point of view. It was organically created for amplifying the voices of those “unheralded” heroes in history.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take friends to the West Charlotte since it is in one of the historic black areas of the city. I use to work at Johnson C. Smith University which is located in that area, so that’s usually a stop while taking folks out and about in Charlotte.

I have a gluten intolerance now so i can’t eat at some of the good southern food i was raised on but would definitely send people to Leah and Louise.

As far as places to hang out. Camp North End is a dope spot to chill, The Levine Museum of The New South is a good location to learn about the history of Charlotte and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture always produce great programs. I am a board member at the President James K. Polk State Historic Site, we will be soon unveiling more inclusive works as it relates to the enslaved population on the former plantation. The site will be a great place to visit in the near future if you’re looking for an opportunity to pay homage to those once enslaved in the area. Recently a greenway has opened on the site so you can get some education and exercise at the same time.

Charlotte has a vibrant very close knit creative community that has cultivated a cohesive support system rooted in a variety of arts.

Some of the folks i follow closely when in town are Hannah Hasan, Alvin C. Jacobs Jr., Hue House, Greg Jackson, Maarifa Ukweli, Ray McKinnon, Ohavia Phillips, Jasmine Hines, Patrice Funderburg, Tina Marshall, Gemini Boyd and countless others. For the past 3-4 years, Iv’e been traveling a lot with film so i am not around as much as i would like to be. Charlotte is a fast growing city so there’s plenty to do.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to all my family and friends who supported and believed in my desires to be a champion for those who have been historically marginalized. I want to thank everyone i’ve worked with for trusting me with their lived experience, as well as the multiple organizations i’ve partnered with in displaying those experiences. Without this collective, there would be no History Before Us.

Website: historybeforeus.com

Instagram: @historybeforeus

Twitter: @historybeforeus

Facebook: History Before Us