Jim Crow
to
Barack Obama
Film Showing and Discussion
October 5th, 1-3pm
Missouri History Museum
Lee Auditorium
This film explores the intergenerational conversations that uncover how issuesof race and racism have changed in the USA throughout the last 100 years. Q&A with producer/director Denise Ward Brown
The Association of
Black Psychologists
Announcements
ASSOCIATION OF BLACK PSYCHOLOGISTS
ST. LOUIS CHAPTER
No current announcements at this time
Past Announcements
The Association of Black Psychologists and Community Healing Network join the broader St. Louis and other communities throughout the world in condemning the killings of unarmed Black men and women including, but not limited to, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland, Bettie Jones, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Anthony Lamar Smith and the many others whose potential we will never know but whose lives were not lost in vein.
The decisions not to indict and hold law enforcement accountable are yet another examples of the devaluing of Black life and the dehumanization of Black people. We urge our Black brothers and sisters, and genuine allies, to continue to advocate for justice on behalf of young Michael Brown. And yet, in our demands for justice, we urge all Black Americans to address the root cause of the wanton killings of our children and so much else that is ailing our communities: the myth of Black inferiority and the denial of the humanity of persons of African ancestry.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2016
Contact: Kevin Washington, Ph.D., National President
301-449-3082
abpsi@abpsi.org
The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) condemns the actions of law enforcement in the recent shootings of 37-year old Delrawn Small by an off-duty police officer during an act of road rage in Brooklyn, NY on July 4, 2016, 37-year old Alton Sterling outside of a convenience store in Baton Rouge, LA on July 5, 2016, and 32-year old Philando Castile during a traffic stop in St. Paul, MN on July 7, 2016. We continue to share our strong concern with these and other egregious acts of police brutality against Black men specifically and Black people in general. The common elements in each of these murders is police officers and Black men. Though it is understood that Police officers have the right of “Use of Force” it is apparent that the use of deadly force against Black men has become an unfortunate outcome of far too many interactions between Black men and police officers’ standard procedure for routine stops. These murders demonstrate that Black lives continue to be devalued.
An atmosphere that is filled with racial intolerance can be implicated in influencing the behaviors of these law enforcers. As mental health professionals (healers) we advance that the psychological well-being of the entire Black community is negatively impacted by the law enforcers’ misuse of force. Such acts unchecked operate in opposition to the Black inalienable right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We also want to emphasize that we do not condone acts of violence in response to the murders, in particular, the murders of police officers in Dallas, Texas and other parts of the country. Rather, we support efforts to transform the use of force policies. We recommend that an impartial body for all law enforcement departments conduct a review of the use of force policies where police brutality has occurred. We also recommend that appropriate review of civil rights violations be instituted. We advance that trauma interventions associated with race and police brutality for children, adolescents and adults be established nationwide starting with the states with the highest occurrences of police brutality including but not limited to Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Mississippi, Florida, California, South Carolina and New York.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of all of the victims. We encourage all who carry the weight of injustice to seek professional support. A list of available psychologists in your area can be found on the ABPsi website: www.abpsi.org. Furthermore, we stand willing to assist with the healing that must take place in our nation in order for everyone to move forward.
The Association of Black Psychologists is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that seeks to promote and advance the profession of African psychology, influence and effect social change, and develop programs that address and work to alleviate problems of Black communities and other ethnic groups. www.abpsi.org.
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Association of Black Psychologist Encourages Activists and Psychologists to Intensify Efforts to Counter the Devaluing of Black Lives
Community Healing Network (CHN) and the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) today announced the launch of an initiative called I Value Black Lives, in connection with this year’s celebration of Community Healing Days, on October 17, 18, and 19. I Value Black Lives is a call to action to bring an end to the dehumanization and devaluing of Black people in Ferguson, Missouri, and in communities across the country and around the world.
I Value Black Lives is a part of CHN’s continuing efforts, in collaboration with ABPsi, to build a global grassroots movement to overcome and overturn the lie of Black inferiority: the root cause of the devaluing of the lives of Black people. I Value Black Lives builds on the late Dr. Maya Angelou’s Call to Wear Sky Blue urging people to take a stand against the myths of White superiority and Black inferiority. In honor of Dr. Angelou, founding chair of CHN’s Board of Advisors, CHN and ABPsi call on Black people to Wear Sky Blue during Community Healing Days to show that we value our lives and that we are determined to move, as Dr. Angelou said, "beyond the pain of the blues to the sky blue of unlimited possibilities."
CHN and ABPsi also call on Black people to reach out to family and friends to encourage them to come together in small groups (during and after Community Healing Days) to envision that future of “unlimited possibilities.”
“We must focus on the restoration of our full humanity and, as a first step, we need to boldly envision a future in which Black people’s lives are truly valued,” said Daryl Rowe, president of ABPsi.
CHN and ABPsi invite Black people to share their visions of a future of unlimited possibilities to keep the healing conversation going.
Defy The Lie. Embrace The Truth:
Emotional Emancipation Circle For Protestors and Activist
January 9, 2015, 6-8pm
Wellspring
33 South Florissant Rd
Ferguson, MO 63135
314-521-4217
​
Led by: Dr. Marva Robinson and Dr. Kira Banks
There is an urgent need for healing in and around the Saint Louis area--healing from the trauma of the killing of Michael Brown and Anthony Lamar Smith, the trauma of the struggle for justice, and the historical trauma of racism. The Emotional Emancipation (EE) Circle is a strategy developed by the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) and Community Healing Network (CHN) to help Black people heal from the trauma caused by the lie of Black inferiority--the root cause of the devaluing of the lives of Black people in Saint Louis and around the world. For nearly 400 years, Black people have been fed toxic lies about our history, worth, and value as people of African ancestry. Lies about our intellect, morals, beauty, and humanity. These lies are all rooted in one big lie: the lie of Black inferiority, which was devised to justify the enslavement and subjugation of African people. It has led to the dehumanization of Black people and the devaluing of Black lives. It contributes to the criminalization, the mass incarceration, and the wanton killing of Black people, and many of the other problems we face as a community. In order to address these and other challenges, we must free ourselves, our children, and the world from the lie of Black inferiority.
The Solution: To reverse the negative trends in our community we must fight for our emotional emancipation--freedom from the lie of Black inferiority. The cumulative effects of four hundred years of trauma must be addressed! Join with ABPsi and CHN to build the movement to overturn the lie of Black inferiority, create a culture of emotional wellness in our community, restore our human agency, and reclaim our dignity as African people.
EE Circles are safe, flexible spaces where we as Black people come together to revitalize ourselves and our relationships with each other, learn about the impact of historical forces on our emotional lives, share stories, and detoxify our minds and spirits.
These circles offer a unique opportunity for fundamental personal and social change. They are designed to clear a space and generate the energy and momentum to help us be at our very best as individuals and people. For more information click here.