Mrs. Steele

FROM THE FIRST LADY

SCLC’s 63rd National Convention

By Cathelean Steele, Founder, Justice for Girls, National SCLC Convention Chair

Greetings, it is convention time once again. Dr. Charles Steele Jr, President and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. Chairman of the Board of Directors have been busy this year with the political climate that has aff ected the voting rights of African Americans throughout these United States. This past year has also been a time to celebrate the many accomplishments of Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr who was and still is a warrior for civil rights. We are elated to announce that on March 3, 2022 – Union Street in Selma, Alabama was renamed in honor of Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. COVID 19 prevented us, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and friends from our traditional in person conventions. We are fl ooding with enthusiasm because we will be able to see you, our supporters in person for the fi rst time in two years. A heartfelt thank you to Bishop Dr. Jack L. Bomar and the staff at Hillside International Truth Center for allowing us to host our breakfast in the King Chapel. “The Right to Vote-The Fight for Justice “is our chosen theme representing the struggles facing African Americans voters since section four and section fi ve of the Voting Right Act was overthrown by the Supreme Court in 2013. Section 4 and section 5 provided” federal oversight of election administration.” President Steele often reminds us that the fi ght for equality is a continuous battle. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is continuing the fi ght and honoring those brave warriors who continue to educate and inspire us to keep the torch of freedom burning. Women have always been a powerful engine of our fi ght for equality. The Women’s Empowerment Awards Ceremony will recognize a few of these great warriors. The theme “Women Blooming Where They are Planted. Making a Diff erence at Home and Abroad”. Thanks to our warriors for continuing to educate, inspire and dedicate your time to making this world a better place for the children of the future. I believe that we must never forget the women that support our warriors from behind the scenes. The staff of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) sends our love SCLC National Magazine/ Spring 2022 Issue

and appreciation to Mrs. Kate LaFayette for her years of support for Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. Lastly, I would like to conclude with these words of encouragement. In 1963 during the March on Washington Dr. Martin Luther King Jr spoke these words. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”. Eleanor Roosevelt also left us with a quote that is meaningful today. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

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African Americans and Generational Trauma

By: Jane L. Coleman, Ed.D., LPC-S, NCC, AADC, ICAADC, CCDP-D, ICCDP-D

The dictionary defi nes trauma as “a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.” When trauma is experienced at a young age, the person may not remember the events of the traumatic experience but will have reactions to reminders or triggers of the event unconsciously. Many times, when asked about their behavior, some people will respond with “I don’t know why I did/ said that!”

Generational Trauma is where responses to trauma are passed down from generation to generation. Some examples of generational trauma are slavery, food insecurity, violence (experience or witnessed), abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, and verbal), neglect, and poverty. In my experience, we, as a people, tend to place traumatic events on the “back burner.” In my family, traumatic events of the past were not dwelled upon or talked about. Any attempt to talk about the event was met with resistance and reprimands that caused emotional insecurity surrounding thoughts and feelings. This caused confusion and feelings of inadequacy which were carried into adulthood. As a means of survival, my parents and grandparents treated trauma as if it was over and in the past and there was no need to talk about it.

Responses to trauma include, but are not limited to, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Substance Misuse, and other mental health diagnoses. If left untreated, unhealthy coping strategies are passed on to future generations, unless the cycle is broken by deliberate decisions to seek assistance. There is a negative stigma to mental illness in our society, especially in the African American Community. In today’s environment of daily news of violence, suicide, crime, and abuse of our children and elderly, we must take responsibility for our mental health. There are many agencies and programs where the mission is to reduce the negative stigma of mental illness and educate communities about the facts about mental illness. By reducing this negative stigma, SCLC National Magazine/ Spring 2022 Issue