Statement of Solidarity and Support
UCF CAPS stands in outrage, devastation, sadness, empathy and solidarity with our students, staff and faculty, and members of the entire UCF community who are being directly or indirectly impacted by current racially motivated events and political unrest.
Starting in spring 2020, the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and others; the weaponizing of race for a white woman’s benefit in Central Park; and the unfair targeting of our Asian communities based on the pandemic are just a few of the many incidents that have re-exposed oppression, discrimination and violence towards our communities of color that have been going on for decades, and continue to persist.
Our communities are hurting because of the re-opening of deep racial wounds on top of the many losses caused by COVID-19. This is causing profound psychological impact and trauma on our mental health. CAPS staff sees you, we support you, and we are here for you. Please reach out if you would like to get support for this or other issues by calling 407-823-2811. We offer some links and resource for support.
“What is #Black Lives Matter”
Black Lives Matter developed out of a response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman after his having shot an innocent black youth, Trayvon Martin. BLM is an international human rights movement that brings attention to black people being disproportionately jailed, excluded, treated as second class citizens, being seated in the back of the restaurant and bracing for self-protection every time they or their children leave their homes. It specifically targets police brutality, racial profiling and racial inequality in the criminal justice system. In our society where black lives have been treated as insignificant, undermined, betrayed and assumed inferior for centuries, Black people with their white allies are standing up and teaching about what equality and social justice looks like.
In light of recent events, please find resources regarding help for racial and LGBTQ trauma and related issues:
Racial trauma:
- Tips For Self-Care: When Police Brutality Has You Questioning Humanity and Social Media Is Enough: http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/07/tips-for-self-care-when-police-brutality-has-you-questioning-humanity-and-social-media-is-enough/
- Emotionally Restorative Self-Care for People of Color: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuLT_YQLGF8
- The Road to Resilience: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/road-resilience.aspx
- 9 things you can do to help end racism: http://sociology.about.com/od/Current-Events-in-Sociological-Context/fl/9-Things-You-Can-Do-to-Help-End-Racism.htm
- 101 Ways to Take Care of Yourself when the World Feels Overwhelming: http://www.upworthy.com/101-self-care-suggestions-for-when-it-all-feels-like-too-much?c=ufb2
- Racial Trauma: https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-128
- Psychological Toll of Racism: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/24/magazine/racisms-psychological-toll.html
- Psychological Impact of Traumatic News: http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/07/02/419462959/coping-while-black-a-season-of-traumatic-news-takes-a-psychological-toll
- Impact of Racial Trauma on African Americans: http://www.heinz.org/userfiles/impactofracialtraumaonafricanamericans.pdf
Being a White Ally:
- Great resources on how to practice anti-racism: https://leanin.org/article/anti-racism-resources?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=antiracism
- Advice for White Individuals Following a Shooting of a Black Individual: http://www.justinccohen.com/blog/2016/7/6/advice-for-white-folks-in-the-wake-of-the-police-murder-of-a-black-person
- Curriculum for White Americans to Educate Themselves on Race and Racism: http://citizenshipandsocialjustice.com/2015/07/10/curriculum-for-white-americans-to-educate-themselves-on-race-and-racism/
- How White People can be Allies: http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/08/ferguson_how_white_people_can_be_allies/
- Teaching and Discussion resources about Ferguson, Black Lives Matter, Racism: http://www.div17.org/resources/ferguson-mo-michael-brown-decision-resources/
- American Psychological Association’s Action Plan for Addressing Racial Inequality:
- Teaching about Ferguson, Do’s and Don’ts: http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/09/teaching_about_ferguson_do_s_and_don_ts/
Coping After a shooting:
- Hope to cope after a mass shooting: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/mass-shooting.aspx
- Responding to the tragedy in Orlando: Helpful resources for LGBTQ people and allies: https://psychologybenefits.org/2016/06/14/responding-to-the-tragedy-in-orlando-helpful-responses-for-lgbtq-people-and-allies/
- Recovering emotionally from disaster: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/recovering-disasters.aspx
- In the wake of the Orlando massacre: 7 ways I take care of myself during depressive episodes:: http://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/7-ways-i-find-relief-in-depression-taylor/
- 13 soothing books to read when everything hurts: https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahgiorgis/escape-plan?utm_term=.gfZX5W00W#.dnEadjQQj
- Tips to support individual and community healing: http://www.peacockrebellion.org/resources/healingtips/
- 4 self-care tips after the Pulse tragedy: https://wearyourvoicemag.com/4-self-care-tips-pulse-tragedy/