Resmaa Menakem on Racialized Trauma

Jul 6, 2021

Resmaa Menakem, a therapist specializing in trauma and author of "My Grandmother’s Hands," delves into the complexities of racialized trauma. He discusses how societal views on race affect mental well-being and emphasizes the importance of body awareness in healing. Menakem articulates the need for white individuals to confront discomfort and engage in anti-racist practices. He highlights the critical role of community support and personal introspection in overcoming systemic biases, advocating for a transformative journey towards collective healing.

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INSIGHT

Metabolizing Energy

Resmaa Menakem views the "two wolves" parable as an exploration of energy, not a competition.
He emphasizes metabolizing "negative" energy for growth and discernment, rather than letting it consume us.

INSIGHT

Racialized Trauma Definition

Resmaa Menakem defines trauma as overwhelming, unresolved experiences leading to stuckness.
Racialized trauma stems from a system where whiteness is the standard of humanness, traumatizing non-white bodies.

INSIGHT

White Trauma and the Bacon Rebellion

White bodies carry inherited trauma from historical persecution and inflict it upon others.
The Bacon Rebellion marked a turning point where "whiteness" was legally defined to divide and control.

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Resmaa Menakem is a therapist with decades of experience who is currently in private practice in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He specializes in trauma, body-centered psychotherapy, and violence prevention. He has also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Dr. Phil as an expert in conflict and violence.

In this episode, Eric and Resmaa discuss his book, My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies.

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In This Interview, Resmaa Menakem and I Discuss Racialized Trauma and …

His book, My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies
His definition of Trauma: Something that happened too much, too soon, too fast, or too long without something that was reparative
A sense of stuckness as an indicator of Trauma
Racialized Trauma
Looking at White and Black Body Trauma
White body supremacy
Being nice vs. being anti-racist
Tuning into our bodies to heal racial Trauma
Collective healing
The power of not jumping to intellectualizing the wounds that need healing

Resmaa Menakem Links:

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Resmaa Menakem on Racialized Trauma, you might also enjoy these other episodes:

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