PowerPoint Presentation

Psychological impact of slavery

Explores some of the lasting psychological effects of the 500 years of slavery. Dr Asantewa highlights how African people, both on the continent and the diaspora, continue to struggle for self-determination and sense of self worth, and reflects on the value of human progress and development. Dr Michelle Yaa Asantewa

When Britain first, at Heaven's commandArose from out the azure main;This was the charter of the land,And guardian angels sang this strainRule, Britannia! rule the waves:Britons never will be slaves.To thee belongs the rural reign;Thy cities shall with commerce shine:All thine shall be the subject main, And every shore it circles thine.Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:Britons never will be slaves.

from poem by James Thompson (The Tragedy of Sophinisaba) Sophonisaba of Carthage Commits suicide over enslavement by RomansThe rulers/Might/superior

The ruled/powerless/inferiorMental Chains around his feetDuring the 17th Century the English generally believed that black Africans were an inferior peopleEncoded in Laws and customsGoverning the bodies of AfricansWritings on slave trade constitute CULTURAL AUTHORITYSlavery/slave trade justifiable The notion that Africans were non-human, or sub-human at best, and that their right to humanity could be denied and ignored was an intellectual construct that required considerable literary focus and sustained articulation Sir Hilary Beckles, Britains Black Debt

Philanthropy/InheritanceEdward ColstonBristolMade Profits from slave tradeExchanged copper, glass from England for humansCredited/landed purchases property & Reputation - charitable works (schools, churches)Memorial streets named after him and own statueDonates 10 million to Bristol = gentleman

The tale of the Beckford fortune epitomises the idea of the absentee plantation owner using wealth, built from slavery, to establish a position in British society with buildings and collections that are the status symbols of an educated, cultured and civilised Gentleman.Amy Frost, Big Spenders the Beckfords and Slavery

African memorialsFonthill House'I who was born a Pagan and a SlaveNow sweetly sleep a Christian in my grave,What tho' my hue was dark, my Saviour's sightShall change this darkness into radiant light.Such grace to me my Lord on earth hath givenTo recommend me to my Lord in heavenWhose glorious second coming here I waitWith saints and angels His to celebrate.

Found on the grave of Scipio Africanus (d.18), Servant of seventh Earl of Suffolk, at Henley Church, Bristol

Where is our history?

joydegruy.comP.T.S.S. is a theory that explains the etiology of many of the adaptive survival behaviors in African American communities throughout the United States and the Diaspora. It is a condition that exists as a consequence of multigenerational oppression of Africans and their descendants resulting from centuries of chattel slavery. A form of slavery which was predicated on the belief that African Americans were inherently/genetically inferior to whites. This was then followed by institutionalized racism which continues to perpetuate injury.

Thus, resulting inM.A.P.:

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

M:Multigenerational trauma together with continued oppression;

A:Absence of opportunity to heal or access the benefits available in the society; leads to

P:Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.

Images of self and identityLow or vacant self esteemLack of self beliefPerpetual feelings of depressionAppearance linked to colourDestructive outlook (rather than aspirational)Maladaptive behavioursLack confidence (overconfident)Strong black womanLazy/oversexualised black man (people)Racist socialisation

Images of self and identityPropensity for anger violenceInternalised self hatredCultural alienation (black/African/Caribbean)Triple oppression racism/sexism/class (black woman)hyersensivity (neurotic feelings of being watched/observed)Victim hoodPoor educational aspirations

Eastenders?

Sexual Assault and Abusewhite male plantation owners, their sons, brothers and other male acquaintances raped Black women without fear of punishment. - desire/punishment. Black men also sexually abused by slaveholders, and, sometimes, their wives.http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/10/03/10-barbaric-and-heartbreaking-ways-enslaved-black-people-were-punished-by-their-slave-masters/Pouring Salt into the Wound (Literally)Afterenslaved men and womenwere whipped or beaten, overseers might order their wounds be burst and rubbed with turpentine and red pepper. One overseer reportedly took a brick, ground it into a powder, mixed it with lard and rubbed it all over an enslaved Black person.WhippingThe whip was the most common instrument used against enslaved Black people. There were even businesses that were established to perform whipping services.ShacklingHeavy, iron shackles used to bind enslaved Africans wrists and ankles. Restrict movement & also a way for plantation owners to humiliate defiant Blacks who tried to escape and to physically and psychologically control their captives.Lynching, burning, castration, brandingHow psychology of complexes Developed

Methods of control"divide and rule: separation of groups who spoke same language, children from parents, etc prevent rebellions = distrust, disunity

Religion: traditional practices disallowed in favour of Christianity (docile not likely to incite rebellion)

Categorised along class lines: domestic/field/factory (unskilled v skilled) (plantation)

Categorisation/hierarchy along colour lines: white/coloured/favoured mulatto /black/dark

21st Century Human zooStrange fruitHumans caging & killing humansWe charge the Barbican with exhibiting institutional racism for agreeing to stage this poison.CANCELLED: 20,000 signatures (Sept 2014)

Slain innocent/guiltyPersisting evil

The Duggan case rested on whether the jury believed the police officer's account of events: that he only opened fire because he thought that the 29-year-old had a gun in his hand and was prepared to use it.

19812011?

The sus law was abolished following race riots in St Pauls, Bristol, in 1980, and in Brixton, London, and Toxteth, Liverpool, in 1981.Mavis Best, successfully campaigned to have SUS repealed.

The chief of police admits to sweeteners from News Corp and gets a slap on the wrist. A kid steals 40 trainers and gets 10 months; it's blatantly not fair. The rapper Smiley Culturestabbed himself? C'mon, please. There are too many unanswered questions. It's not gangs it's individuals who are fed up and want to be in a better position, but they don't know how to say it or change it."Steve McQueen, Film Director, also an artist

Small victories

Officer to be charged with perjury following death of Sean Rigg, CPS report July 2015 (Victims Right to Review)Marcia Rigg & other family

Locked up Or KILLED in Police CustodyOverall black prisoners account for the largest number of minority ethnic prisoners (49%)Source: prisonreformtrust.July 2015

Sean Rigg, died in police custody, 2008, case continues

groomed to breed (stud)HypersexualisedLazy (hustler)Brutish (hoodie image) Untamed & uncivilisedUnthinking, unfeelingunemployed/uneducated (Bernard Coard book, Educationally subnormal)addiction as an enterpriseNatural born rapistsMurderersAngry/violent Internalised stereotypes

Remove the mental chains ?

And be slain

Thomas Sankara President of Burkino Faso, 1983 -1987Assassinated; aged 38

Malcolm X embodied black male refusal to allow his identity to be defined by a system of race, gender, and class domination.

Imperialist White Supremacist, capitalist patriarchyPatriarchy - oppositional to black male liberationinterrelated system of domination that will never fully empower black men. (BELL HOOKS)

Watch Being a Man 2014 with Akala

White man: dominant, powerful, violentBlack woman & man: submission

The angry black woman especially whenShes intelligent & articulateSpeaks her mind/shows confidenceWears her hair in natural styles (shes NOT her hair)Stands in solidarity with African menStands in solidarity with other black womenIs an advocate of black liberationIs rooted in her African identityOlive Morris, Black Womens Group

Colour complex and hair obsessionAspiration: image associated with white standards of beauty White woman = breath of fresh airBlack/dark = undesirablelightskin/brownskin epitomisedExpropriation through white supremacist gazePerpetuate image industry, that reaps billions (see Beauty Is documentary) = socio economic conditioning

When my skin is lighter, I just feel prettier, Its a taboo subject, and people get judgmental about it, but thats how I feel.Irene Major, former model

Eric & Jessica HuntleyBlack Voices in Britain Then & Now: A celebration of Black literature in Britain and influence on British life 29th October, 7.30pm 22.00pmPublishersWritersCommunity/social/political activistsEducatorsCultural producersContributions made to British Life

Racial socialisation: knowing our history,Organising around struggle, collective over individualism = empowerment and healingReparations March 2015

Healing and reparations

Re-membering the psyche positive self images/affirmationsAlign with individual and collective processes of rebuilidng the psyche (unchaining)Reappropriation of cultural identity (traditions/progressive)Our memorial: pay homage, never forgetCall for reparations (IMPORTANT)Ally our healing with rebalance of our socio-economic conditionPolitical awareness/racial socialisationIdeological unity (Kwame Nkrumah)Question: system that perpetuates the oppression of peoples. Take action for self transformation

Reconfigure self image, re-evaluate self esteem & worthCreativity & purpose: are you where you believe you should be?Are you where others have positioned you?Whose perceptions of identity are you projecting?Have you resolved childhood/family issues?Or do you perpetuate cycles of negativityDo you challenge any sense of victimhood?Do you reflect on your actions good or bad?Advance the history/psychology of greatness (this is NOT in the past) (See When We Ruled, Robin Walker)

Humanity on TrialResponsibility: to respect our history, our struggles, and determine our future. We must be clear about our socio-economic condition. That it was deliberate and systematic. That our present situation is directly linked to our history. We must re-educate ourselves and develop means of subverting the pains and lies that have confined us. Most of all, we must never rush to get over this kind of trauma but instead take affirmative action in solidarity with brothers and sisters of the human family to ensure it is recognised as a human tragedy and that it will never be repeated..

Thank you for listeningB: waywivewordzspiritualcreativeWeb:waywivewordz.com E:michelleyaa@waywivewordz.comVisit also: blackhistorywalks