What else is there to say?
Beloved Community joins with the family of Tyre Nichols, the city of Memphis, and communities across the nation in mourning the loss of another beautiful Black life. We offer our deepest condolences, and express our profound grief and rage.
To be Black in this world is to experience racialized trauma at every turn. The disturbing frequency of these senseless killings and their relentless news coverage have real adverse effects on Black mental health, providing a solid foundation for "racial battle fatigue". University of Utah professor of ethnic studies William A. Smith coined the term to describe how continued acts of aggression or discrimination can lead to anxiety, stress and even health issues.
The loss of Tyre is yet another painful reminder of the inherently violent institutions that fray and unravel our social fabric. His name brings forward memories of all the Black lives cut short by the hands of police, tools of a corrosive system founded on anti-Black racism.
As we mourn Tyre, we also mourn Takar Smith and Keenan Anderson.
Combatting racialized trauma is a long and arduous process: It’s a systemic race-related repetitive stress injury. It’s not a post-traumatic stress disorder or injury because we’re not in a post-racist society. It’s something we have to deal with every day. - William A. Smith
While we understand how important it is to stay informed at this time, we encourage you to take care of your emotional well-being, protect yourself and loved ones.
Limit your intake of the news and social media. It is more than OK to disconnect when you have the information you need. Take the time to process emotions. Have open and honest conversations with someone you trust.
We hope that the following resources can assist you in intentionally practicing self- and community-care:
The Black Lives Matter Meditation for Healing Racial Trauma - A 17-minute guided meditation for Black people using mindfulness, affirmation, and metta (loving-kindness).
The Ally + Accomplice Meditation for Cultivating an Anti-Racist Mindset - A 17-minute guided meditation for White people who identify as allies and/or accomplices to Black people using mindfulness, affirmation, and metta.
The Center for Healing Racial Trauma is dedicated to using love, liberation, equity, and creativity informed therapeutic interventions to help racially/ethnically marginalized people heal from racism.
Mental Health Resources for Underrepresented Communities via the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In addition to the resources specific to minority communities, AFSP also provides general crisis and mental health–condition specific resources.
PROJECT LETS Race and Mental Health - Race-specific resources & information including "How to Talk with Other Whites About Racism", a transcribed webinar for allies and accomplices.
The Structural Racism Remedies Repository - A repository of policy-based recommendations for addressing structural and systemic racism or advancing racial equity drawn from a vast array of published material. A complete list of sources is provided in an index at the bottom of the page, with a short-hand acronym for identifying the source in the repository.
