Trauma in Black Bodies

TRAUMA IN

PROCESSING

BLACK BODIES

WHY WE NEED TO PROCESS EVERY TRAUMA Clinical insight into the need for processing trauma in black bodies.

Monthly Racial Trauma Clinics Feedback From The Exhibition Packaged Exhibition New Art Piece

APRIL 2024 ISSUE NUMBER 1

Inside 3

FROM THE EDITOR

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A RECAP ON THE LAST EXHIBITION

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MONTHLY TRAUMA CLINIC

A MESSAGE FROM THE CLINICAL LEAD

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THERAPEUTIC SPACES

CLINIC TASTER PROCESSING TRAUMA IN BLACK BODIES 101

DETAILS ON THE NEW VENTURE

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WHY WE NEED TO PROCESS EVERY TRAUMA

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ART ON PRESCRIPTION

PROCESSING

Cornelius Browne Editor-in-Chief

TRAUMA IN

BLACK BODIES

Dr. Christina Browne Clinical Lead Marlene Greaves Pastoral

Meet our Team DEIRDRE MORRISON Art Psychotherapist, Proof Reading and Editor

ADEOLA BODE-ODEYEMI Life Coach

www.adumaadan.co.uk info@adumaadan.co.uk corneliusbrowne@me.com

JANET ANJORIN-BROWNE Psychology Coach

Autismcan Ltd t/a Adumaadan Eastside Office, Kings Cross London N1C 4AX

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From the Editor

I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm with which the members of the African diaspora received the launch of the “Processing Trauma in Black Bodies” exhibition in East London in November 2023. The impact was felt worldwide because some of the visitors to the show said they were referred by friends in the US and the Caribbean.

“This is an incredible exhibition of art that celebrates and sparks to the core of my being. It’s affirming and allows me to connect to the greatness within” This is just one of the myriads of comments left by visitors.

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It’s been quite a challenge to decide what the follow-up to this successful show should be. On reflection and sober appraisal of what we could have done better, the main focus of ‘processing trauma’ stood out.

In response, we have now set up a bespoke monthly trauma clinic. This takes place at the appropriately named Nubian Life Resource Centre in West London from Friday 31st May 2024. And subsequently, the last Friday of every month. The workshops will be facilitated under the supervision of our consultant psychiatrists or other clinicians.

Further details are in this newsletter.

“This is an incredible exhibition of art that celebrates and sparks to the core of my being. It’s affirming and allows me to connect to the greatness within”

Cornelius Browne EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

From Visitors at our Exhibition

This connects me to my heritage. My mother’s land. I have experienced abuse and acknowledged trauma and pain.

Reading the captions has allowed me to reflect and heal further.

Your work brings so much peace to the mind yet speaks so loudly. Thank you for your beautiful expression of black people.

It’s made me think about my position in life as a brownskinned woman and how my children will now need to process these things from a tender age. I’m inspired.

Such a beautiful exhibition with lovely pieces and deep topics.

Great conversation starters.

More discussions are definitely needed. 100% needed in corporate spaces.

GRACE SMITH

SHAMYLEA MILLER

FUNMI AKINGBE

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From Visitors at our Exhibition

You cannot see this art and not be impacted. Thank you. This is moving and stirs up a hunger to be more and do more. Thank you for the inspiration.

JUNIOR OGUNYEMI This is a very powerful exhibition explaining how we manage and exhibit our trauma and experiences. This exhibition should be in every library and NHS facility.

I found this exhibition unsettling in a necessary way. It caused emotions to rise to the surface. Then I found some resolve in seeing them in relationship to the artwork, which felt like echoes of the emotions and experiences shared by other members of the diaspora.

K. ALEXANDER

PATRICK VERNON PROFESSOR

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From Visitors at our Exhibition

What a truly wonderful art exhibition that encapsulates the issue of racial trauma in our bodies and the issues that as the global majority we are seeking to solve, explore and prevent.

This topic is so needed to allow us as black people to heal and to grow. How Cornelius has made his work so beautiful and symbolic has made an impact on me and many others' healing journey.

Many important and relevant themes to our community, family and ourselves are exemplified and beautifully created through Cornelius’ artworks. He is truly talented and gifted in depicting our trauma in a beautiful but stark sad way.

Thank you for your work and creativity. You are an exceptional human being. I give you your flowers! Well done.

Wish you every success.

LORNA DYKE UCL

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EVERY TRAUMA WE EXPERIENCE MUST BE PROCESSED

By Dr. Christina Browne Consultant Psychiatrist

One of the uniqueness of our human ability is that we can learn to recognise that trauma once experienced can have a lasting impact on our mental and physical health until we decide to take control.

When we fall ill mentally or physically and receive treatment, unprocessed trauma might be the reason why our recovery is prolonged.

It becomes a management problem. For example in mental illness, despite the treatment with medication, or even psychosocial interventions, the illness may seem resistant to treatment.

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Many people have to be tried on several psychotropic medications with no ending in sight. To avoid the revolving door phenomenon, of repeatedly returning for treatment, of a condition such as depression or anxiety which should be easy to treat, trauma must be processed.

For the black community, who repeatedly experience racial trauma directly or vicariously to enjoy early and good recovery, part of the treatment should include the processing of micro and macro aggression.

Dr. Christiana Browne the clinical lead at Adumaadan is a consultant psychiatrist. She has invaluable lived experience as a member of the black community and as a professional in the NHS and private sector for over 30 years.

Trauma Clinic MONTHLY

VENUE: NUBIAN LIFE RESOURCE CENTRE, WEST LONDON STARTS FRIDAY 31ST MAY 2024 TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE

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We can Heal!

PROCESSING TRAUMA IN BLACK BODIES 101

Thinking is a chemical process.

Knowing the damage toxic chemicals can do to your body and brain is an incentive to take control of your thoughts and emotions. You are only aware of 20% of your thoughts. Realising how you feel can give you a heads up on what thoughts are occurring under the hood (your brain) and you alone can stop it. Do it often and it will become a habit, an automatic reaction that occurs when you are triggered. You can heal yourself by thoughts alone. There are over 100 topics in this psychoeducation originated by Cornelius and Christina Browne. You will have access to some of these at each Trauma Clinic.

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WE ARE CREATING

THERAPEUTIC SPACES THE ‘TRAUMA IN BLACK BODIES EXHIBITION’ IS BEING REPLICATED IN HOMES AND CORPORATE SPACES LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

Adumaadan is an art genre that explores the efficacy of art and culture in delivering Public Health.

The Therapeutic Space enables the processing of racial trauma.

It provides an affordable and accessible panacea for the lived experience of African and Caribbean Community members in the UK. An unmet need.

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“The arts are inherently transformational, not only for the artist but also for the viewer. They introduce universal problems, helping us to feel less alone and isolated with our traumas.

As we identify with an image in a painting or a character on stage, we gain the aesthetic distance to address the unspeakable and ponder possible solutions” - Source: Embodied Philosophy.

In addition, to these impactful lifechanging images, mind management tools such as psychoeducational aids etc. are made available in the therapeutic spaces to help fill the vacuum of these unmet needs.

Contact info@adumaadan.co.uk for further details. www.adumaadan.co.uk

More than Just one offs!

The exhibition is now packaged as resource cards.

WE HAVE TURNED THE EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE INTO ‘DIGESTIBLE CAPSULES’ AND OFFERED THEM AS PRESCRIPTIONS TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. THE RESOURCE CARDS CAN BE USED AS GIFTS AND COFFEE TABLE ESSENTIALS IN GP SURGERIES ESPECIALLY IN BLACK SPACES. THEY CAN ALSO BE USED AS ICEBREAKER TOOLS IN CLASSROOMS ETC. THESE A6-SIZED PLASTIC CARDS WITH FULL CAPTIONS ARE MUST-HAVE THERAPEUTIC TOOLS. AVAILABLE AT:

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WWW.ADUMAADAN.CO.UK

Defining Racial Trauma “Lately, I’ve been reading up on how others define our hidden pain.

The image here is from my recent visual journaling based on my new knowledge of self” - Cornelius

“IN MANY WAYS, HUMILIATION AND DEVALUATION ARE AT THE CORE OF VIRTUALLY ALL THE DEFINING EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE OF COLOUR”

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- HARDY, KENNETH V.

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