Black history is American history

The shared stories of our past are meant to be told. Even if they make us uncomfortable. Even if we think we’ve learned what needed to be learned. Even if we know we haven’t.

Stories are meant to be told. Because healing doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in phases. Each one building upon the last.

And here’s the truth that might be hard for some to swallow. The abuser does not get to define this healing process. They do not get to tell us when it is done, or how it is done. Nor do their offspring. Nor does anyone have such a right when it is anyone but themselves for whom these distinctions are drawn.

Make no mistake. The only ones who want to bury our collective past are those who would allow it to repeat.

Cristen Writes