Armani Brown
Essential Question
Does everyone enjoy the right to life, liberty, and security of their person?
Themes from Truth Testimonies
- Trauma/Grief
- Problematic Mainstream Media
- Militarization of Police
- Unjust Legal System
Description
Truth Teller Armani Brown talks about her father, who was shot by police. Her experience with her loving father differs from the perception police officers hold of Black men and also addresses how continued police brutality of other members of the Black community retriggers the original trauma of violence and loss.
Learning Opportunities for Community Leaders and Educators
Explain to participants that they will view Armani’s testimony and that you will pause the video for a “stop and discuss” process at points where questions emerge. Allow for discussion and then continue viewing Armani’s story.
Guiding Questions (Stop & Discuss)
- Do you feel that the stories about African (or Black) Americans and police shootings differ from the stories about White Americans and police shootings? In what ways do these stories differ?
- How do the witnesses in the audience respond when Armani talks about how shootings and violence since her father’s death is re-traumatizing (re-traumatization refers to the experience of feeling the original trauma after the event)? Why might they respond in that way?
- This story demonstrates an association between the experience of trauma and race. It also shows the complicated impact of American racism on law enforcement in the United States. What preliminary thoughts do you have about how to end racism in the United States?
Extension
Create a Young Person’s Bill Of Rights. In a team with 3-4 participants, each person should write down five rights young people should be guaranteed. Each participant should keep their initial thoughts to themselves. (While this exercise focuses on young people, all people deserve fundamental rights.) In the larger group, team members will prioritize the top 10 rights young people should have. Upon prioritizing the 10 rights, the groups will also produce 2-3 images that describe each of the 10 rights. The final product, of the rights and descriptive images, will be placed on poster board to be displayed in a classroom, school, or community location.
Resources
Can Racism Cause PTSD? Implications for DSM-5
Crimes Against Humanity: The Struggle for Global Justice
Enhancing Wellbeing in the Face of Traumatic Media Exposure
It’s Called “Battered Race Syndrome.” Or Something Like That.
Racial Trauma is Real: The Impact of Police Shootings on African Americans
Slow death: Is the trauma of police violence killing Black women?