“I had known the pain, and survived it. It only remained for me to give it voice, to share it for use, that the pain not be wasted.”

Audre Lorde

The experience of violence is shaped by shame and silence. We’ll hear stories about how silence and shame define the experience of violence for everyone involved: the victim, the perpetrator and the bystander, with a special focus on white bystanders and racist violence. We explore how violence is dehumanizing, and leads survivors to blame themselves. We also hear about the forces that make it difficult for victims and bystanders to speak up.This hour long show is about the power of overcoming shame and silence by telling the truth about violence. Through compelling stories and expert reflection, we explore how finding voice and bearing witness can become part of recovery for both individuals and communities.

Tips & Strategies for Confronting Violence

Listen to Stories From the Episode

Safe Space Radio · From Violence to Voice

Resources

From Our Guests

Carl Russell; No Telling Aloud: Keeping Secrets That Hurt
Susan Brison; Aftermath: Violence and the ReMaking of the Self
Jim Gilligan; Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic
Jim Gilligan; Preventing Violence: Prospects for Tomorrow
Martha Minow; Between Vengeance and Forgiveness: Facing History After Genocide and Mass Violence
Martha Minow; Breaking the Cycles of Hatred: Memory, Law, and Repair
Daryl Fort, TEDx 2014; “Safe Communities Require Empathetic Courage”