One Year Later. One Hundred Years Later. Still Happening
By: Dr. Denise Renye
In the last week of May we had two major anniversaries in regards to violence against Black people. The first is the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd on May 25. The second is the 100-year anniversary of the Tulsa massacre on May 31-June 1 … a multiday massacre. For those unfamiliar with the Tulsa massacre, in 1921, mobs of White residents attacked Black residents and burned businesses of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, OK, which was also known as Black Wall Street. It marks “one of the single worst incident(s) of racial violence in American history,” according to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
The attack took place on the ground and from private aircraft, where over 35 square blocks of the district were destroyed. At the time, the Greenwood District was the wealthiest Black community in the U.S. – hence the nickname Black Wall Street. More than 6,000 people were held at the Tulsa Convention Hall and the fairgrounds – some for as long as eight days, the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum said. In terms of injuries, over 800 were treated at hospitals and clinics while 36 died – although the number could be as high as 300.
Why do I bring these events up? For one, because until recently, the Tulsa massacre wasn’t shared widely. Not many people knew about this assault on Black people. Contrasting the massacre with something that happened just a year ago also shows us that White people continue to perpetuate violence against Black people – it’s not solely in the past. We have a systemic problem regarding racism that bleeds through everything from finance to education. Furthermore, sociocultural systems are macrocosms. Those systems are reflective of what we think on a microcosmic, or individual level. Meaning, racism and violence against Black people is a psychological issue. It doesn’t go away with time or because of some law. It requires effort on the part of all of us.
To that end, I have some questions for you to consider:
· First, do I have the capacity to reflect on my own thinking?
· Where is the violence in my thinking?
· Do I understand that if left unexamined, my thoughts create systems that are harming others?
· How do I respond when I hear people make racist comments or jokes? How do I want to respond? And what’s in between how I want to respond and how I do respond?
· What is my understanding as to how racism spreads?
· Why is racism so hard to eradicate?
· What are some things I personally can do to prevent the spread of racism?
I mention all this because it’s clear to me that thoughts can become actions. In order to end violence against Black people not only requires changing the external landscape, but also the internal one. Assisting people in examining and changing their internal landscapes is what I do as a psychologist. And I’m also White. I won’t pretend I am the best person to directly offer therapy to BIPOC even though I have worked with folx along the race, gender, and ethnic continuums over the course of my career. However, if working with me directly would be in service to the advancement of Black Lives Matter, I will continue do so. I have no plan of stopping that.
In addition, I support the Loveland Foundation, which offers a therapy fund for Black women and girls to help with access to mental health services.
I have created a team through the Loveland Foundation to raise funds for Black women and girls to receive therapy. Please consider donating through this link here. Note: I do not benefit directly in any way if you donate, beyond knowing that I have helped facilitate therapeutic services for people. In the dropdown box under "select fundraiser" choose "Denise Renye (team captain)” to donate through the team.
I care deeply about social justice and know it is my personal responsibility to address anything that arises, no matter where I am and in no matter whether I’m acting in a professional capacity or not. I hope you will join me and if you want to talk more about this, let’s be in touch.
References
“1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.” Tulsa Historical Society and Museum. https://www.tulsahistory.org/exhibit/1921-tulsa-race-massacre/ Accessed June 1, 2021.
Milam, Brie. “10 Journaling Prompts About Racism.” http://www.briemilam.com/blog/2020/6/13/10-journaling-prompts-about-racism. June 13, 2020.
“Tulsa Race Massacre.” Oklahoma Historical Society. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=TU013. Accessed June 1, 2021.