The Truth and reconciliation event: health and wellness
Yesterday I completed an item on a political bucket list that I did not even know I had.
I testified before the human rights commission for my state regarding my experiences living here in Vermont; the second whitest state in the nation, from 2014 to the present.
To start I had a cup of tea:
They asked what kind I wanted. When I said, “herbal, please” and dandelion root arrived (brought to me, by an apologetic white woman saying, “This was the only one available")
I knew “Spirit was in the house”.
My card for the day was “warrior”.
Cliff Notes on what this is and what happened:
A Truth and Reconciliation Council.
This was the third of four scheduled events (first one postponed so actually two still left).
Five individuals spoke of experiences related personally and professionally to Health and Wellness issues here in Vermont.
Four devastating stories, best encapsulated as:
--"IF YOU ARE BLACK and want to come and live in Vermont; settle in Chittenden County, or you risk serious harm to your emotional health/significant weathering. Outside of Chittenden County, expect poor outcomes/significant uphill struggles for any Black family members in the year 2025. Vermont has simply been has been too thorough and systemic in its institutional racism from 1900 forwards for you to easily thrive"
(Spoken by a Black female, retired, MD, heartbroken and disappointed to be unable to reccomend this state to other Black folks and planning her own escape ASAP)
--A Black woman who describes herself as "ethnically ambiguous", recounts her own upbringing in Vermont. A biracial adoptee raised by white parents, she testifies to the heartbreak of bringing her Black family back to her home community and being exposed to much institutional racism (especially public schools and police), and in fear for the lives of her husband and her children.
-- An indigenous man of Pacific Northwest first nations descent, raised in the NORTHFIELD area of Vermont, recounts his struggle with institutional racism in the schools, social services and the building trades
-- Two family members, testify regarding the bullying, lack of mental health services support that resulted in IZZY'S DEATH. A daughter to one. A sister to the other. Dead at age 14 by suicide
Lizzy's family testimony begins at 3 hrs in and 40 min. Please bear witness there if you can only listen to one or two segments of this entire day.
Grief shared is grief diminished.
LINK TO THE FULL EVENT:
https://www.youtube.com/live/efw7hYDESX4?si=n93sczcDuKACbM_r
CLIFF NOTES on My QUEENDOM COME
(in 5 min listen)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ii1XPZ_fDIOlJ15dRgcrWBQ1YwTqW54W/view
About Dandelion tea:
https://wisdomofthespirit.com/the-spiritual-meaning-of-dandelion/
I am Opeyemi.
eternally grateful for the opportunity to continue to model thriving
(in challenging, and sometimes actually toxic) environments.
staying present
and Going with the Flow of Life.
Opeyemi Parham MD
www.opeyemiparham.com