In this second hour of our interview with Richard D. Smith, we dive into how the systemic trauma of oppressed communities is reflected in feelings of powerlessness followed by rage. Lack of education, job opportunities, limited access to healthcare, and mental health programs has reinforced the idea that somehow Black, Indigenous, People of Color, (BIPOC) people are inherently, "less than".

Richard sees self-love as a "revolutionary act," starting with understanding "What happened to me is not my fault or even about me." When you are able to see that external events and influences are not about you and you can choose to take care of yourself in simple yet profound ways you start to co-create your life.

One of the first steps in healing trauma, says Richard, is to activate, "healthy aggression." The kind of aggression that supports the individual to stand up for themselves, honoring their self-worth and creatIng safety in their world. Standing up and saying "my life matters" leads to standing up for my community and all the people in my life.

Kevin and Niseema also talk with Richard about his outreach efforts for healing individuals and communities. His work emphasizes educating all communities about the effects of individual, systemic and generational trauma, and where to go from here.