Voices in Response to Ferguson
Students and Faculty at Saint Louis University


After the shooting death of Michael Brown in August, a Black Ph.D. student in Saint Louis University’s Medical Family Therapy Program  program organized a group to discuss the how the shooting effected mental health trainees.  The comments below are from students and faculty who attended the group which has been meeting on a weekly basis since September 2014.  


I think Ferguson is a perfect example of how the justice system in America is broken, and unfortunately it isn't the only example of this. From unequal protection under the law based on race, to disproportionate numbers of minority citizens being incarcerated, to issues with Darren Wilson's jury trial, every part of how we handle crime in this country needs to change.  On a more personal note, I live on South Grand so there were several protests in my area. I witnessed and participated in the peaceful marches but was also emotionally affected by the violence at a coffee shop I used to go to frequently: Mokabe's. Despite the violence, walking down S. Grand and seeing the paintings on the boarded-up businesses was very uplifting and I think that positive message should be shared.
Nikki Hurless, 1st Year Doctoral Student, Department of Psychology

My initial reaction to the murder of Mike Brown was indignance. I was grateful the region seemed to be waking up to what has been happened for centuries yet frustrated that the region was just waking up to what has been happening for centuries. As a mother of two Black boys, I was engaged in protest. And as a psychologist, I offered pro bono services and worked as a de-escalator at numerous events. Personally, Ferguson remains a present day reality as #BlackLivesMatter has ye/t to be realized.
Kira Hudson Banks, Ph.D., Faculty, Department of Psychology

"The events in Ferguson and St. Louis surrounding the death of Michael Brown brought about racial tensions in the community for which I was professionally and personally unprepared. As a male majority member, the tension would have been easy to ignore had I not been the student representative in a diverse graduate program working with clients of varied backgrounds. My circumstances imposed many uncomfortable conversations during which I repeatedly removed my foot from my mouth. However, over months of concerted listening to my peers and clients, the anxiety was replaced by a more nuanced understanding of the struggles of individuals of color. For me, the removal of shameful and uneasy feelings when discussing race has been paramount to my developing deeper connections both in and out of the therapy room." 
Kevin Wenzel, 4th Year Doctoral Student, Department of Psychology

Being a child of the 60’s, my reaction to the non-indictment verdict of the Grant Jury was to have a line from one of my favorite Peter, Paul and Mary folksongs pop into my head.   That line was “when will they ever learn?” from Where Have All the Flowers Gone… it was hard for me to believe that in almost 5 decades, we are no further along in race relations than we are now.  I felt so sad that black voices still are not being heard, that racism seems so rampant, and that Ferguson that evening seemed so similar to Selma in the mid-60’s.  
It was also difficult to know what to do in my professional role… I talked with the students of color with whom I am close, and mentioned it in my class.  Our dept. Diversity and Inclusion committee put together some talking points for the faculty if they or anyone in their classes wanted to bring up anything related to Ferguson. As chair of the committee I presented these to the faculty, and wasn’t surprised that there was not a word of reaction or discussion.  My thought at that point was that we have a long way to go in academia to feel safe discussing racism.
Honore Hughes, Ph.D., Faculty, Department of Psychology

The shooting of Michael Brown and the events that followed were tragic for many reasons. It was hard to see a community so close to us go through so much grief and difficulty. I saw many apathetic and even hateful reactions from acquaintances, community members, and colleagues that minimized or disregarded the racial injustices at play. It was especially hard for African Americans, who felt that their lives and voices were being devalued, over and over again. Out of this difficulty, however, racial issues were brought to the forefront of consciousness for many people. We held a few student meetings during this time to discuss the issues occurring, and students of color shared their own personal experiences of discrimination, insensitivity, and bias, some of which had happened within our own training program. Though the conversations were difficult to start, I felt a sense of togetherness and care within the program that I had not felt before. We did not all agree on how the issues should be addressed, but we all agreed that they were important. So I think the events were a catalyst for us to think about, as psychologists and as humans, what our role is in improving the racial inequalities that take place at various levels of our society.
Imman Musa, 2nd Year Doctoral Student, Department of Psychology

My move to St. Louis to start a new faculty position came two days after the shooting death of Michael Brown.  Many of my family and friends were worried about the timing of my move, feeling nervous for the events taking place in the area.  I even had people in the University apologize that I was arriving during these tenuous circumstances.  But I saw this tragedy as an opportunity.  As mental health professionals, our souls are conditioned to help those in times of dire need and crisis.  In a community that needed healing and conversation about the landscape of race and authority, I wanted to be part of these talks. Having the opportunity to attend our inter-disciplinary race and social justice meetings on campus was a way to start these conversations. These meetings have also made me re-evaluate the areas of clients’ lives that I often overlook as both a therapist and supervisor.  This experience in St. Louis has been truly humbling.  Even with several years of graduate training and clinical experience under my belt, I have so much to learn from my colleagues, students, and community about how we address race and social justice issues in a way to move forward as a society.   
Max Zubatsky, Faculty, Medical Family Therapy Program  

It is almost impossible for me to not be aware of my race and the context in which it might be viewed in various situations.  Then Ferguson happened and I felt invisible and overly exposed all at the same time. In clinical sessions, my awareness of my race suddenly included wondering if my vary presence makes patients think of Ferguson, think of protestors, think of agitators, think of angry Black faces, question whether or not they can trust me.
Fatima La'Juan Muse, Doctoral Student, Medical Family Therapy Program