Happy Veterans Day? Black Women and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

For the past year, I've had the privilege of working as a guest artist with the Carpetbag Theatre on Linda Paris-Bailey's play, Speed Killed My Cousin, directed by Andrea Assaf. Speed is a multi-discipline work rooted in the story of an African-American, female combat soldier and her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder after returning home from Iraq. The central character, a third generation soldier, courts death by vehicular suicide.

Before taking on the lead role of Debra, I had limited knowledge about the experiences of women in the military and I didn't know the working definition of PTSD, even though I had experienced it after my only brother was murdered in 2007.

The National Institute of Mental Health offers the following explanation of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: 

"...People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they're no longer in danger.  PTSD develops after a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The person who develops PTSD may have been the one who was harmed, the harm may have happened to a loved one, or the persona may have witnessed a harmful event that happened to loved ones or stranger. PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks  plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes."

This necessary work of art, has opened my eyes in ways that I never could have imagined. CBT's commitment to giving artistic voice to issues and dreams of people who have been silenced by racism, sexism, homophobia, etc., has carried this work from Knoxville to Miami, North Carolina to Tampa, and soon the great city of New Orleans. But we don't just show up and perform. Each stop on the tour, we conduct story circles with some of America's bravest people, veterans with PTSD. 

While in Tampa last month, I met two African-American mothers who are survivors of wars here and abroad. Their stories, like so many others, inspire me to continue living truthfully on stage because dammit..there are women who will never get recognized and/or the treatment they need and deserve.

Studies suggest that Black Women in combat zones continue to experience higher rates of PTSD due to assaults that are never reported: READ MORE ABOUT THAT HERE. This is yet another example of why I will raise the Black Girl Banner until I leave this planet. 

BLACK GIRLS ROCK and we also suffer from anxiety and depression. We DESERVE Love and to feel safe...ALWAYS!

On this Veteran's Day, let us remember the men and women who took the vow to protect and serve this great country. I am especially proud of my oldest nephew, Keevondrick Womack (K.T.), who is now an Airmen!  

And let us also remember the countless others who do not feel like they've been protected by their country or countrymen, and are suffering every day because of this.

Resources:
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/
http://veteranscrisisline.net/