Mildred Gaddis interviewed me today on her radio show. We’ll be talking about the book and answering questions from callers tomorrow and Friday as well. I was impressed with all the callers’ questions and comments and am looking forward to talking with them more in the next couple days. One of the themes raised during this morning’s conversation was the long-term psychological impact of racial violence on both the victims and their families over time. One caller asked how we can come to terms with such an ugly history so that we can “recover and renew” ourselves. I am no psychologist, but I do know that America has never really come to terms with parts of its past and this subject needs to be taken seriously. I propose a kind of Truth and Reconciliation Committee where we can have a public hearing of past wrongs–especially the racialized sexual violence black women faced throughout our history–and work to shape a future we can all be proud of.
