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Trauma-Responsive New Zealand

"Open Wounds" panel discussion with Phil Allen hosted by Trauma Resilience Institute

 

FOLLOWED BY PANEL DISCUSSION with

  • Phil Allen Jr.
  • Reena Evers-Everette
  • La Shona Coleman
  • Kevin McLeod

 This has happened you can rent the video  

To rent  "Open Wounds"  visit https://vimeo.com/ondemand/openwounds

 

NEW ZEALAND TIME

Date: Sunday 23 August 2020

Time: 10 am

PACIFIC TIME 

Date: August 22, 2020

Time: 3.00 pm

Registration: Closed

ABOUT THE FILM

In 1953, my grandfather, Nathaniel Allen, was murdered on the Sampit River in the historic Lowcountry town Georgetown, SC by a gunshot wound to the back of his head. This murder, though not the only event of injustice and tragedy in Georgetown, rocked my family and our community. The injustice was compounded by the refusal to investigate and the lie written on his death certificate that his death was an “accidental drowning” due to him “fall[ing] off the boat.” 

This event was traumatic for my grandmother, Rebecca Young, and her entire family, including my father Phillip Allen, Sr., who was only two years old at the time of his father’s death. As attested to by her brothers in the film, my grandmother would never be the same. From my own experience growing up seeing my father’s behavior, he would never be the same once he found out at nine years old how his father died. 

This documentary short film exposes the truth about his death and delves into the reality of intergenerational trauma due to racial injustices/tragedies. Open Wounds continues the conversation of systemic/structural/institutional racism that further traumatizes people of color, especially African Americans. 

This film aims to enlighten with a history lesson, educate, challenge, and give us hope that there is the possibility of authentic racial solidarity that could change culture in this nation for the better. We will never “make America great again” until we all engage the issues of race(ism) once and for all. 

 

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Our SILENCE has acted to conquer and divide us and perpetuated racism.

Our SECRETS have prevented us from facing our trauma.

When we don't name it, we don't face it.

Many of us have been deceived into believing racism is not an issue.

We have faced years of intergenerational racism across the world.

It has caused trauma. It has not been resolved

Unresolved trauma has created deep-seated anger. We have wounds.

When those wounds have been ignored and disregarded they fester to become....

 OPEN WOUNDS

The documentary is powerful.

Phil Allen Jr. made it as a tribute to his grandparents so that their story and their truth could be shared so that their family could heal.

Phil suggested a way for us to resolve our trauma:

LISTEN to the stories of people harmed by racism

LEARN from those stories, reflect on them, talk about them

LAMENT and grieve with others because people have been harmed

Stand together in RACIAL SOLIDARITY  

And MODEL reconciliation.

WE CAN DO THIS

People can't choose the colour of their skin

 

Those that are coloured are harmed through racism. They live with it every day. They understand it. They can SHARE THEIR STORIES so that others have the opportunity to learn about their journey and to gain understanding.

Those that are white do not face the same harm. They can LISTEN to those stories to find understanding.  They can include those who are coloured to be part of  all decision-making processes in organisations and government to make systemic change

We all need to address our trauma on a personal level so that we can meet from a place of authenticity, empathy, kindness and compassion. We need to be curious rather than reactive

When both come together in understanding, kindness and compassion, in SOLIDARITY, that is when we will move FROM OTHERNESS TO US (Kevin McLeod)

That is when we will address racism.

When we join together in RACIAL SOLIDARITY

 

 

 

 

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