JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON: How to Heal Your Broken Heart
Today on EBONY.com, Terrie M. Williams, author of the book, Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting, has a list of 10 ways to cope with the devastating verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial:
With the senseless killing of Trayvon Martin, we once again find ourselves mourning a young Black spirit taken from us far too soon. As survivors, we are charged with honoring Martin and the countless others we’ve lost by standing strong, supporting one another and taking time to consider both our individual well-being and the collective well-being of our community.
At every turn in our lives, we learn that no matter our credentials, we are often treated as “less than” our White counterparts. Taught that we have to be twice as good to get comparable compensation. Treated as if we are at once both invisible and highly conspicuous—ignored when we are in need and profiled when we are simply proceeding. That a self-appointed neighborhood patrolman targeted Martin because he looked “suspicious” speaks volumes about the experiences we have in communities across the country each and every day.
The trauma of racism is accompanied by post-traumatic stress disorder for many and a great, hidden sense of pain for most. For those who have been following the events that occurred after the killing of Trayvon Martin last year, this weekend’s not guilty verdict has been particularly soul-crushing—bringing all that pain, that Black pain, to the surface.
So how do we address our heartbreak? Here are some practices/steps we can all take in the service of our individual and collective healing:
1)Look Away: You may need to take a break from the TV/radio/internet/newspaper in order to protect yourself. The Zimmerman verdict will undoubtedly dominate the airwaves for the foreseeable future; taking a pause from the 24-hour-news cycle does not mean that you are less vested in justice for Trayvon—but it may be critical for your self care.
2) Write About It: Start to keep a journal–pour your heart, feelings, emotions into it. Include powerful quotes, clippings from magazines and even pictures that help you express the range of your feelings-including anger. Read a blog post that summed up your feelings about Trayvon better than you can? Print out a copy and include it in your journal.
Read more at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/wellness-empowerment/black-pain-10-ways-to-heal-your-broken-heart-304#ixzz2Z85OHbgE
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