Denise Branch, anti-racist educator, discusses whips and white supremacy on the US border

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A few days ago, heartbreaking footage of the US border patrol on horseback with whips in hand, chasing … [+] Haitian migrants hit the internet and sparked legitimate outrage.

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A few days ago, heartbreaking footage of the US border patrol on horseback with reins or whips of some sort, chasing Haitian migrants, hit the internet and sparked legitimate outrage. The overwhelming response was anger and disgust, with many taking to social media to share their feelings. Walter T. Geer wrote in response to the pictures, when we say we’re tired and exhausted, or emotionally exhausted, remember that before we log into email and make calls with you, we wake up. with these types of visuals on social media and news. John Graham Jr. shared just know your black employees are seeing these images hitting their social media feeds and watching in horror as [Texas] presents its barbaric response to black asylum seekers from Haiti. Black trauma porn, or what can be considered a medium that presents the pain and trauma of a group in excessive amounts for entertainment purposes, seems to be endless. How are blacks impacted by the repeated trauma that is inevitable on television and in the timeline? How do black employees cope with repeated racial mega-threats? Denise Branch is an anti-racist educator who consults with organizations to develop anti-racist people, programs, partnerships, buying, philanthropy, policies and practices. In an email, Denise shared her thoughts on the treatment of Haitian migrants, the ubiquitous nature of anti-blackness, and what she thinks businesses should be asking for to cultivate safer spaces for black employees.

Janice Gassam Asare: What were your first feelings and thoughts when you saw the recent images that have circulated of [U.S.] Border patrol outfit [what appear to be] whips in chasing Haitian migrants?

Denise Branch: My immediate thoughts were the terrifying experiences of our ancestors with slave patrols, the organized groups of armed white men who monitored their movements, imposed discipline on black slaves, and formed river patrols to prevent their escape. The image of the border patrol was what I would call white supremacy and the whips. I felt equally traumatized and triggered by the memories of our ancestors bloodied on their backs and the trauma they caused them. The story of the white man’s whip is full of black blood. Centuries ago, American law offered slaves no protection from the whip of the white man. After surviving and not surviving centuries of lashes, black people still fight against the whip of the white man today. The main method used to control the behavior of slaves during slavery was the threat of having them whipped. Who in the 21st century would authorize such behavior and actions linked to historical atrocities against black bodies? The anti-black racism, with a smile on the faces of the border patrols was more than disgusting. They seemed to have enjoyed using the whips.

Our black Haitian brothers and sisters were stretching their bodies for inclusion and belonging, but instead of being included and [treated] with membership, they were whipped from the wounds of the anti-black racism of the Americas. America does not see their humanity. America doesn’t think they belong. The Afghans were airlifted to be included and belong. Haitians were airlifted without inclusion or belonging. President Joe Biden [is] the same Joe Biden Black America made president and ignored the urgent appeal of black Americans in response to the mistreatment of black Haitian migrants from the Americas. He and Vice President Harris should have addressed this issue from day one. America has a habit of turning its back on all that is black. It should be illegal for America to impose stricter migration restrictions on people from black countries [compared to] migrants from non-black countries. Where are the it’s not who we are, were all in the same boat, and were all people of the human race? This is exactly who America is, weren’t all in the same boat and not all races are treated like humans. There’s no way America and Americans still have no idea [that] what they do to blacks is inhuman. We cannot ignore the anti-black racism, and we cannot ignore the anti-black racism heard by the border patrol. The black community must laser focus on the practice of self-preservation in the continued onslaught of violence against black bodies.

Asare: Many companies need advice on how to support black employees who, after seeing these images, are traumatized again. What suggestions can you offer on how businesses can do this?

Anti-racist educator Denise Branch

Denise branch

Branch: That’s a great question, but because the space of anti-racist educators and consultants is already colonized by racial capitalists who are paid to be the educators and consultants of the black lived experience. [and] removing opportunities for black educators and consultants, I will rephrase the question to [this]: Many companies don’t have the questions or answers to support their black employees [who] after seeing these images being traumatized again, these racist images are the ones that get erased from textbooks, too many companies think black employees can turn off the black trauma they experience in the world when they go to work , but it doesn’t work like that.

Here are some crucial questions companies should ask themselves after seeing white supremacy and the whips: What needs to happen immediately in our business to make black employees feel psychologically secure and engaged as if their black lives matter? How does our company support the mental health of our black employees? Do our black employees have a safe space and experts to talk to about racism and racial PTSD inside or outside the organization? Does our public stance against racism involve challenging and changing the minds of all our stakeholders in this unprecedented environment of anti-black racism? Anti-black racism is a state of mind. In addition to the immediate anti-racist needs of our Black employees, what long-term anti-racist thinking and planning would benefit our BIPOC employees? How can we take immediate action to create anti-racist change? What can we do to help liberate the workplace and the world from the violence of racism? What role can our business play to end this endless cycle of anti-black racism?

The border patrol footage showed no trace of blood, but it leaves a trail of trauma on black employees who are already traumatized by daily anti-black racism. There are so many ways in which black employees experience racism trauma that we increasingly need to call on organizations to support anti-racism education and to be hypervigilant about any racist practices out there. the workplace and the world. Racism at work and racism around the world are inseparable. When businesses ignore race, it means they ignore the racism and racial injustices in society that racial hierarchies have created and continue to maintain. We need an anti-racist world, not an anti-racist and racist world. When history is not learned, it repeats itself. The most powerful weapon against racism is education. Businesses can contact me and other black anti-racist educators and consultants for answers. The only experts and educators on black lives should be black lives.

Asare: Often the anti-black racism that we discuss is not centered on the anti-black racism that immigrants experience. Can you tell us more about the impact of anti-blackness on black immigrant populations in the United States?

Branch: I don’t think there is much difference in being treated with anti-black racism once on American soil when African Americans stand in solidarity against anti-black racist practices against black migrant communities on American soil, it is equally important that we continue to call and remedy the anti-blackness inside [Black] immigrant communities to African Americans. It is very important that authorized black immigrants to the United States unite with their black American brothers and sisters who are fighting for them. They must respect African Americans and the great sacrifice of blood, sweat and tears [that] African Americans have succeeded by fighting for civil rights and continue to do so through the Black Lives Matter movement, which laid the groundwork for black immigrants to come to the United States. If their fight is our fight, our fight must become their fight. We must all be in this fight together. We need each other to survive.

Asare: How do you stay optimistic when you see the pervasive racism that never seems to end? As someone who has dedicated their life to this job, what motivates and motivates you to do this job, which can be very exhausting and exhausting?

Branch: Black women keep me optimistic. Black women unknown and known all over the world. Black women know that we cannot win the fight to protect the well-being and save the lives of everyone in the black community if we weren’t in the fight to protect the well-being and save the lives of all in the black community. I think of Harriet Tubman who fights to free us from whips and white supremacy, of Stacey Abrams who fights to keep our generation from backing down and being whipped by white supremacy. History has shown, if not black women, then who?

I appeal to the strength of the ancestors. Fighting and educating against anti-black racism is like breathing for me. I am not tired of breathing. I am tired of seeing people in my community take their last breath because of anti-black racism. I will continue to fight and educate on the front lines to save black lives and livelihoods. This is how my community will breathe an air without racism. It’s part of how we’re going to survive. We cannot breathe without a fight. Educating against racism is somewhat sacrificial. I sacrifice my sanity to end racism one mind at a time. It only takes a racist spirit to end a black life or a black breadwinner. Anti-racist education is the beginning of the end of racism in the mind. We cannot protest racism in the spirit. When I’m mentally and physically exhausted, I take off my gloves, step off the grid for a while, and practice taking care of myself.

This interview has been edited slightly for clarity and brevity.

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