Trauma

Trauma.

What a powerful word, right? 

When we hear it, it conjures up images of veterans, rape survivors, car accidents...individuals. Single humans, in one off events who we have understanding of, patience with, and compassion for. 

Regardless of age, gender, or race we can, when aware of a person's trauma history, make choices to support them as they develop systems and safeguards to move forward stronger and more skilled than ever. We as a nation, after a lot of years and painful resistance, have learned how to collectively love and honor those people, as they fit our definition and understanding of the phrase "trauma survivor".

But what about when its an entire race that is carrying that trauma? What about when that trauma is ingrained in your DNA, your oral and written history, in the blood your ancestors? What about when the trauma is currently happening, but is so ingrained it's not even on your radar, but instead is experienced as an underlying current of static discomfort?

I'm going to stop you right there before you tell me that slavery ended with people's grandparents, and the generational impact of racism by ownership is made up. I encourage you to educate yourselves on the history of slavery and ownership...there are dark secrets hidden in the fluffy folds of the American fabric. Also, there's about 10 years of documented research showing that trauma is passed on neurobiologically and neurochemically for up to three generations... so sometimes those fears that you experience that you can't explain, aren't yours at all, but you experience them anyway!

When trauma is triggered in individuals, a few things happen. Most of them are invisible to the human eye and the conscious human mind. In other words, changes take place, that most times we aren't aware of, but they result in an involuntary fight, flight, or freeze response. And then...well...who knows. (My behavior is about as unpredictable as New England weather in those situations, not sure about you.)

The initial response to others responding to trauma, for me, especially if I am unaware or not noticing, is to become defensive. "I didn't cause (fill in the blank) in you, why do I have to pay the price for what others did?" Even better, "will you calm down? Nothing is even happening right now!" or my personal favorite: "I thought we were past this....". 

As I am typing those sentiments, I see that it sounds a lot like white people responding to the black community. Doesn't it?

I'm going to stop you again, because I felt the hackles go up when I typed the last sentence. I'm not talking about individuals when I say white people. "You" can be a single person or a group, and my comments are directed at the group. I'm talking about a community. Society. The nation. 

Of course there are individuals that willingly and enthusiastically participate in racist activities. However, 98% of Americans don't, and no one is claiming they do. What people are claiming, is that the system, the government, the laws, the pay structure, the infrastructure, the educational system, the gerrymandering, the disparity in investment in the future of the youth, etc...needs an overhaul. A look-see. A redo. Not a go back...a move forward. The way that Germany did with the Jewish community...an acknowledgement and effort for reparations. 

You're right, I don't know anyone that was born into historic slavery, but I do know that our current laws are designed to enslave our most vulnerable populations. I know that people who do not have white skin are arrested, charged, and convicted at a higher rate percentage-wise than white people. And I know that everyone that lives in a prison, works for less than a dollar a day doing something to make my life, and yours, better. Making a license plate, making travel arrangements, training service dogs, cleaning trash on the highway...modern day government sanctioned, constituent supported work camps.

I know that when slavery ended, at least publicly, very few black American families had any accumulated or even foundational wealth. Similar to inmates leaving prison, they left with nothing in search of the American dream. Clusters of black Americans formed impoverished communities, because we set it up that way. 

And the way the system is designed doesn't stop a few from escaping and succeeding...like fish who escape a net. Funny that those are the few that you use to bolster the argument that change isn't necessary. 

However, it's the few that aren't part of a protest for revolution, that you focus on to bolster the argument that the black community no longer deserves to be heard. That the destruction, the riots, the outcry of generational pain and depression isn't worthy of hearing, because they're traumatic response isn't to our liking. 

The fact that people took advantage of their trauma, riding the backs of protesters to loot and damage communities, should make us stand together more committed to this fight than ever. These predatorial people who take advantage of humans who are in pain, are not part of a movement for our greater good, but for their own personal gain. Let's allow them to be the catalyst that creates some awareness for true and fundamental change.

The point is, that we are looking at a community who is experiencing trauma. They are searching for a way for their collective experience to be heard, seen, and honored. They have, en masse, "hit the deck"...and our job is to provide cover until they feel safe and protected...which is what you do when your own troops are under fire. You never leave anyone behind. ANYONE. EVER. 

Because this community, the black community, are part of our nation. They are part of the people that we fight for, die for, and we shouldn't stop fighting until they are equal. In every way. 

For now though, I believe we need to embrace the black community the same way we embrace soldiers coming home from war. With the knowledge that the trauma is still happening, and even though we may not see it, they're still feeling it...and the one thing I know we can do, is help them find their way to safety. Together.

Trauma.

What a powerful word, right?