From Kiki and Amy: We recorded this before the horrific murder of our hometown "gentle giant," George Floyd, but much of the content—especially the stages of grief—are very applicable to a nation (and world) in mourning for George, Ahmaud, Breonna, Philandro, Sandra, Eric, Trayvon, Michael....all murdered by police back to Emmett Till. We're in Minneapolis (some say Ground Zero), and we dedicate this episode about invisibility to them and their traumatized families. Even before the marching began in the midst of a still deadly pandemic, in the time of Covid-19 and quarantine, many people were beginning to discover (some for the first time) what people with invisible illnesses—and all marginalized members of society, especially young Black men just living their lives in daily fear—already knew: Our society is NOT JUST. Black Lives Matter. Period. Justice and peace is long overdue—not words, DEEDS and LAWS—and we all need to look deep within ourselves and ask, what can I do? And SEE our neighbors, HEAR their voices, really listen without defensiveness. Yes, we mean white folks must change, and that means all of us, no matter how uncomfortable - our white privilege is real, and our discomfort will not kill us. Note: This episode was originally scheduled for release at the end of May. We did not feel right putting out an episode that first shocking week, and rearranged the order to not be tone deaf. We air it now hoping that the messages we share about Kiki's life with chronic invisible illness will be peripherally pertinent to, and honor, the chronic grief experienced by all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We state unequivocally: Black Lives Matter. Art Credits: Shirien Damra (original); Jenna Mathis (re-created)
In this episode we discuss coping mechanisms like the Arts and therapy, and reference Elizabeth Kübler-Ross's Five Stages of Grief. David Kessler is her former collaborator who, with the permission of her family, added a sixth stage. Read more about him here.