Deep Wounds: Complex Trauma and its relationship to a colonial past and present
Content Warning:
This article contains mention of sexual violence and trauma.
Image: Unsplash
On Monday, February 1st, United States Congress Member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), via Instagram (IG) Live, spoke to her followers about the frightening realities when white supremacists rioted on Capitol Hill on January 6th. During the IG live, she described the events of that day, hiding in a fellow representative's office, fearing her life. AOC mentioned of compounded trauma when she disclosed, during the IG live, that she was a survivor of sexual assault, stating, "[…] I haven't told many people that in my life, but when we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other." This notion of compounding trauma speaks directly to the riot's impact, especially because the distress it caused remains representative of the constant state of anguish felt by racialized peoples daily.
AOC represents New York's 14th congressional district, home to one of the largest populations of racialized people in the United States. Since her first election in 2018, which made her the youngest woman to be elected to the US congress, AOC has continuously been the target of racist and sexist attacks. AOC's IG live reminds us of the multitude of trauma experienced by people with different intersecting identities. At the very root of this trauma: colonization and its violent legacy, which is still pertinent today.
“This notion of compounding trauma speaks directly to the riot’s impact, especially because the distress it caused remains representative of the constant state of anguish felt by racialized peoples daily. ”
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network defines complex trauma as "exposure to multiple traumatic events—often of an invasive, interpersonal nature—and the wide-ranging, long-term effects of this exposure. These events are severe and pervasive, such as abuse or profound neglect." Writing on complex and compounded trauma faced by Indigenous communities and the connection to colonialism, Professor Terry Mitchell at Wilfred Laurier University, notes "Colonial Trauma is described as a complex, continuous, collective, cumulative and compounding interaction of impacts related to the imposition of colonial policies and practices which continue to separate Indigenous Peoples from their land, languages, cultural practices, and one another." Mitchell, who researches Indigenous rights and governance, further states "Intergenerational trauma is compounded and extended by the direct transmission of further trauma, what has been termed lateral or horizontal violence, as the impact of cultural dislocation and internalized oppression is manifested in internal conflict." The trauma we feel throughout our lives in conjunction with the compounded ways in which colonial trauma attaches to bodies and minds, especially for Black and Indigenous communities and peoples, are further exacerbated by racism. The riot on Capitol Hill by white supremacists was about power, domination and control. Racism, sexism and sexual violence are also rooted in power, domination and control.
Acknowledging the land we are on also means we must acknowledge connections to sexual violence and rape culture at the foundation of this country. As such, our understanding of sexual violence, especially regarding how trauma resurfaces, must be tied to understanding how a colonial past and present shapes our communities in ways that only an in-depth analysis of compounded and complex trauma can help us begin the necessary healing.
“The riot on Capitol Hill by white supremacists was about power, domination and control. Racism, sexism and sexual violence are also rooted in power, domination and control. ”
When colonization continues to shape the trauma we endure, the approaches we take to heal must be anti-colonial. This also means we must remain cautious of the liberal co-opting and subsequent watering down of grassroots anti-sexual violence and anti-violence movements such as the #MeToo Campaign. Since AOC's IG live, the hashtag has once again started trending on Twitter. It is essential to name the abuse we face. Equally important is to name the systems of power that allow violence to circulate within racialized communities at disproportionate rates.
“When colonization continues to shape the trauma we endure, the approaches we take to heal must be anti-colonial. ”
Although grateful for the conversations that AOC and others are currently having online about the connections between white supremacy and trauma, I also want to remind folks to hold space for survivors in your lives. And to survivors: Since AOC's IG live and disclosure, the commentary online, especially from right-wing websites and social media users, has been deeply unsettling. With the commentary coupled with the constant media reporting on the issue, the online space may not be most safe for survivors. I have found it helpful to remain offline and extend a gentle reminder that it is okay to take some time offline. Do what feels good for you.
The article mentioned above by Professor Terry Mitchell can be accessed here: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/ijih/article/view/32251
Resources:
A list of Sexual Assault Centres (Ontario-Wide) offering free counselling and information about sexual violence: https://sexualassaultsupport.ca/support/
If you are currently experiencing an emergency, please contact:
Good2Talk - Helpline for Post-secondary Students 24/7 Ph: 1-866-925-5454
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre: 24/7 Ph: 416-597-8808
First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Hope and Wellness Line 24/7 Ph: 1-855-242-3310
Support Service for Male Survivors of Sexual Assault: 24/7 Ph: 1-888-887-0015
Gerstein Crisis Centre Ph: 416-929-5200
LGBT Youth Line: Ph: 1-800-268-9688
Access your nearest walk-in clinic or hospital emergency department or call 911
