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NABSW STATEMENT ON KINSEY AFROPHOBIA HISTORICAL TRAUMA July 28, 2016 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK SOCIAL WORKERS, INC STATEMENT ON THE SHOOTING OF UNARMED BEHAVIORAL THERAPIST CHARLES KINSEY, AFROPHOBIA, AND HISTORICAL TRAUMA On July 21, 2016, Charles Kinsey, a black man laid on the ground with his hands up, identified himself to the approaching police as being unarmed, a behavioral therapist, and a caretaker on behalf of an autistic young man sitting yards from him playing with a toy truck. Shortly thereafter he was shot by a police officer. Once again, our nation witnessed a citizen’s video phone recording of the shooting of another black man by police. It is clearly visible that Mr. Kinsey’s arms are in the air, he is laying on his back, he is compliant and communicating his information to the officers in a calm matter. He nor the autistic child he is with, appear to be an immediate threat to themselves, each other, or the officers. Within moments of the officers arrival, Mr. Kinsey is shot in the leg, handcuffed, and transported for medical attention. His autistic client is also handcuffed and transported. Mr. Kinsey asks the officer why he shot him. His reply, “I don’t know.” Jumping to the conclusion that if one is Black they are dangerous is clinically referred to as Afrophobia. Afrophobia, is a race-based xenophobia expressive as the practice of extreme hatred, hostility, prejudice, fear, dislike, disapproval and discrimination towards people of African ancestry, culture, and the African continent including the Africans (http://afrophobia.webs.com/understandingafrophobia.htm). Afrophobia motivates crimes against Black people, simply because they are Black. Mr. Kinsey is one of the latest victims of Afrophobia, which is pervasive and commonly being captured and documented by cell phone video. 1 NABSW STATEMENT ON KINSEY AFROPHOBIA HISTORICAL TRAUMA July 28, 2016 Social workers employed as behavioral therapists work with children and families in crisis and typically coordinate rescue, intervention and support services with the police. We are deeply concerned that the health and safety of Mr. Kinsey and his client were compromised and their civil and human rights violated. Since 1968 the National Association of Black Social Workers, Inc. (herein referred to as NABSW http://www.nabsw.org) has worked to create an environment of racial equity and justice nationally, and throughout the African Diasporas committed to enhancing the quality of life and empowering people of African ancestry through advocacy, human service delivery and research. In addition to this mission, NABSW seeks to create an environment in which people of African ancestry will live free from racial domination, economic exploitation, and cultural oppression. In the case of Mr. Kinsey, NABSW demands the firing of Officer Jonathan Aledda. Administrative leave does not address Afrophobia. In January 2016 the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (http://www.un.org), investigative findings urged the United States to “address current concerns, and assess progress made in the fight against racial discrimination, ‘Afrophobia,’ xenophobia, and protecting and promoting the human rights of African- Americans.” NABSW agrees with the findings of the United Nation and implores the United States to address the historical and ongoing crimes against humanity regarding it’s’ citizens of African ancestry. Chairman, Ricardo A. Sunga, III of The United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, in July 2016 after the killings of Stallings, Castille, and five police officers in Dallas issued the following statement: "Impunity for state violence has resulted in the current human rights crisis and must be addressed as a matter of urgency." “The United States is far from recognizing the same rights for all its citizens. Existing measures to address racist crimes motivated by prejudice are insufficient and have failed to stop the killings. It is time, now, for the US Government to strongly assert that Black lives matter and prevent any further killings as a matter of national priority”, according the Chairman, Ricardo A. Sunga III. NABSW stands with this group on this request. 2 NABSW STATEMENT ON KINSEY AFROPHOBIA HISTORICAL TRAUMA July 28, 2016 Afrophobia and the historical violence against Black people creates deeply rooted and resonating race-based trauma that affects the mental health of Black people. In the newly released book, Social Work Practice with African Americans in Urban Environments (Wells-Wilbon, McPhatter, & Vakalahi, 2016), historical race- based trauma is described as deliberate, systematically inflicted, ongoing, and extensive creating a collective experience of trauma. Historical trauma can also be inter and transgenerational, interrupting the healthy physical, philological, and psychological development leading to devastating consequences. “Soul wound(s)” (Brave Heart, 2003) is the term used to explain indigenous communities unresolved grief as a result of cumulative subjugation to intentional environmental stimulus, such as discrimination, colonizing, and oppression. As members of the communities experiencing ongoing trauma due to state sponsored violence we offer our services to local, state and federal entities in addressing the health of our community. NABSW is adequately skilled with the experts to address the mental health of our community, police/community relations and the psychological needs of our community to change the script that is so often being played out over and over in communities across the United States. The historical perspectives of being African in America must be examined and discussions must begin to devise a common sense, practical and realistic solution in addressing a complex situation. OUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS. Dealing with the constant trauma associated with viewing murder after murder of innocent, unarmed Black men takes an emotional toll. Anyone in need of counseling resources is encouraged to contact NABSW’s Comprehensive Health and Wellness Committee [email protected]. Additional culturally sensitive resources can be obtained through: • The National Association of Black Psychologists, Inc. http://www.abpsi.org Black Psychiatrist of America, Inc, http://www.bpaincpsych.org • National Black Nurses Association http://www.nbna.org • The Office of Minority Health http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov If you are in immediate need of assistance call your primary health provider, spiritual advisor, or dial 911. 3 NABSW STATEMENT ON KINSEY AFROPHOBIA HISTORICAL TRAUMA July 28, 2016 We furthermore request municipalities, along with their citizen review boards, evaluate how community policing is enforced in communities of African ancestry. Specifically, we request an investigation of: 1. Police training on nonviolent interventions. 2. Police protocol and policies regarding unarmed citizens. 3. Police protocol and policies regarding unarmed and citizens of African ancestry. 4. Police protocol and policies regarding mental disabled and persons with disabilities. 5. Police trainings regarding community safety and interactions with persons of African ancestry. 6. Cross training with the police and mental health professionals. As the Democratic National Convention convenes in Philadelphia, to solidify the presidential nomination of 45th president of the United States, Hillary R. Clinton, we call upon our elected officials, including the Honorable Barack H. Obama, 44th President of the United States of America, to recognize the continuous and accelerated violations of human and civil rights of persons of African ancestry and to implement policies to bring to justice those who stand behind their uniform and badge to murder and maim innocent men, women and children. References Brave Heart, M. ( 2003). The historical trauma response among natives and its relationship to substance abuse: A Lakota illustration. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 35 (1) 7-13. Sotero, M.M. (2006). A conceptual model of historical trauma: Implications for public health practice and research. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice. 1(1) 93-108. 4 NABSW STATEMENT ON KINSEY AFROPHOBIA HISTORICAL TRAUMA July 28, 2016 Roberts, D.( 2011). Fatal invention: How science, politics, and big business recreate race in the twenty-first century. The New Press. New York. Wells-Wilbon, R., McPhatter, A., & H.O.Vakalahi (Eds.). (2016)Social Work Practice with African Americans in Urban Environments. Springer Publishing. New York. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53124#.V5WhLPkrKUk Black Lives Matter! Visit NABSW on Facebook and Twitter 5 .
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