What I appreciated most about Chapter 2 was the invitation to approach the body with curiosity rather than fear, which felt both grounding and empowering. The author’s emphasis on trauma living in the body, rather than solely in the thinking brain, reframed healing as a somatic and embodied process instead of only an intellectual one. Another point that stood out was the discussion of how many white-bodied people are conditioned to view their bodies as fragile, vulnerable, and in need of protection, often looking to police bodies or systems of authority for safety. As being a white woman this stood out. I appreciated the mindfulness exercises and opportunity to connect to my energy centers around this topic.
Question:
Examine your own beliefs about white bodies, Black bodies, and police bodies. Can you trace the beginning of these beliefs? How does your existence in your body impact your beliefs about other bodies?
Honestly, this book, and mainly the presentation, was a bit triggering for me. I really appreciate what the author is saying, especially when he chooses to write in a somatic sense, because I connect more to a presentation of energy and a philosophical framing. However, I seem to immediately disconnect when a historical perspective is brought up. That is certainly something interesting for me to explore on a personal level. The presentation and categorization also felt triggering, as it came across more as a dividing energy than a point of connection for me. I kept wondering why this was so uncomfortable? Is it because I am white and was raised by a conservative family with a Midwestern-type vibe, or is it the way the material is being presented, which feels so rigid and “black and white,” based on one person’s experiences? I think I appreciate when things are framed more as “this is my experience” as opposed to “this is.” This reflection has allowed me to consider why it is so triggering for me. I often tell my students that our triggers are our glimmers, so I do believe there is a lot here for me to break open.
I did have a truly enlightening experience with a friend of mine who spent half of his life in prison. Without him even saying anything, I was able to feel how much more challenging it is for a Black man with felonies to grow and move forward. That was a lived experience that I felt in my body. It was as if our differences allowed for an opportunity for huge growth within me. Maybe that is part of it — acknowledging that we do have different experiences because of our skin color and life choices, and that those differences hold a huge opportunity for growth and expansion for me. In that sense, I do feel that experience offered me a chance to be more mindful and to embody how differences can become a powerful connector and expander when I truly self-reflect.