Book 1, Week 8- Final Meeting!
My Grandmother's Hands, by Resmaa Menakem
Tomorrow, we close up our first book with our final meeting… Whether or not you’ve finished it, or only read the first chapter, feel free to join!
How do I summarize a book that dives deep into the premises of injustice within our society and the embedded trauma we all subconsciously carry… The truth is, it would be rather difficult. But let us remember some key points…
Trauma is experienced in the body, and occurs when something happens that's too much or too fast, for our nervous system. It is our bodies’ protective response, and every single person reacts differently to circumstances.
Trauma is not your fault- but it is our responsibility to be aware of how our past experiences affect the way we interact with those around us. We need to take the steps to stop the cycle of trauma from being passed down into our generations
White body supremacy exists, and is deep rooted in all systems of America. It first began as trauma in the bodies of Europeans who fled atrocities, and trickled its way down into racism, and beyond.
Concepts of whiteness and blackness were created in the 17th century.
Police bodies also experience and carry their own traumas. It doesn't excuse the mistreatment of civilians, specifically black bodies, but it does give us a route to empathy and healing when we all see each other as humans who carry their generations of patterned behavior.
Police bodies need more resources on how to support themselves. Too many times, the culture of being an officer doesn't include softening their emotions, and recovering after a traumatic call. They need more support to regulate. Many police officers live with chronic stress in their bloodstreams which is not good for their health; they are more likely to become an alcoholic, become aggressive towards their partners, etc. Police bodies also need to take accountability, and infuse themselves in the community they patrol- show up to gatherings, talk to and play with the kids... They can’t keep seeing themselves as other.
White bodies carry trauma too and they also need to take accountability… They cannot rely on the systems to change, they must do the work in themselves, and change the culture of their actions. Being defensive towards this topic, participating in subconscious microaggressions, refusing to heal, do not help the cause.
Black bodies carry a lot of trauma, and it negatively affects their health. They are more likely to develop certain kinds of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and also more likely to not receive proper medical care. The factors at play are discrimination, accessibility, stress, environmental, genetic, and socioeconomic…
Black bodies have also learnt to cater their behaviors and actions in a way that settles the bodies around them (white bodies, police bodies). They have to be hyper aware of the way they speak, what they wear, where they are, who they are surrounded with… Many black bodies live with fear, knowing that that someone’s reaction can ultimately lead to their death. Think of the lives of Tamir Rice. Eric Garner.
American Policing has its historical roots in slavery. Before any formal police, there were patrols that would catch runaway slaves. The roots of our police system also go hand in hand with incarceration today.
Body centered activism is where we can all start- learning how to calm, and regulate our nervous systems. We can use tools that target our vagus nerve, and allow us to be in our bodies.
Community, for all bodies, is important. Building community can lead to a lot of change, and we as humans thrive off healthy interactions. While we can all take similar actions, it's up to individuals, in whatever identity they fall into, to continue to fertilize cross-community connections.
Not hurting is no longer an option. We must all feel our emotions. Stop living in a state of ignorance and move through our clean and dirty pain on a path that allows us to mend our hearts and bodies, dissolving the grips of generational trauma. We must see each other, lift eachother up, respect and care for eachother…
All together, we can be in community… but it starts with us. It starts with you. With me…
Thank you for being on this journey while we dance our way through the pages of My Grandmother’s Hands, by Resmaa Menakem
Please join us tomorrow for our meeting! See you for our next book… Stay tuned
Our Final Meeting: 📅 June 28th, 10am ET 🕑 1 Hour 📚 Chapters 11-End 📍 Google Meet, join here
Sibling I just want to say thank you for doing this. It is so appreciated. Resmaa.com