Growing up ”Black” in the United States, Fear, Empathy, and more with Chris Blount [Episode 29]

Paul Krauss MA LPC talks with Chris Blount about his experiences growing up as an African-American male in the United States. Chris discusses his experiences in the African-American community, and his experiences interacting with diverse cultures. Chris and Paul discuss their experiences becoming friends. Chris and Paul discuss personal growth through conversations and face-to-face conversations. They also discuss racism, stereotypes, “fear of the other”, projection, violence, the media, communication and more. Further, Chris discusses his thoughts about how one’s environment can influence their state of mind and sense of safety.

Also discussed: chance meetings, New Year’s Eve parties, Seattle, Tacoma, On Purpose Recordings, New Orleans, Chicago, genuine friendships, music, Wu Tang Clan, podcasts, Profoundly Ignorant Podcast, Chris Talks Podcast, “political geekery”, laughing on airplanes, cultural competence, learning from people who are “different than you”, exposure to culture, media, inner city upbringing, the culture of New Orleans, nontraditional households and upbringing, stepparents, trauma, crime, murder rates, police corruption and violence, kids going to school, bullies, poor neighborhoods, differences in schools, a deficit of options and opportunities, school counselors, “newsworthy” neighborhoods, Soldier Slim, adaptation, adjusting to trauma, “the hood”, we are all human, stereotypes, cultural lenses, suburbs, urban areas, living in a motel, how the news media paints pictures, The show “Cops”, labeling others, racism, cultural encapsulation, there is bias, and there are biases that you aren’t even aware of, projection, assumptions, lack of conversations, American Slavery, the South of the United States, the Bible Belt, Southern culture norms degrading African-American people, feeling “less than human”, not much exposure to people from other cultures, David Duke, KKK, curiosity, college, moving out of your comfort zone, Majoring in Psychology, we all have cultural differences—but we all have similarities, being online too much, how do we be friends?, social media, twitter fights, tribalism, projection, anger, how your environment affects your thinking, race relations, segregation, fear of the other, Alderman, fear, leaving your comfort zone, Chance the Rapper, PTSD, Black Lives Matter, Trayvon Martin, black males, negative experiences with the police, police brutality, a trip to the corner store ending up in a jail stay, how online videos have changed things, viewing murders online and no accountability, bogus charges, Anglo-Saxon is the predominant culture, chameleon, blending, paranoia, living in fear, Dallas Police Department, education of officers, psych 101, why does it have to take problems before we express empathy, authoritarian, emotions, knowledge, policing your own community, relationships, racist agendas, protection and defense, innocence lost, trying to see the good in people, institutional racism, the prison industrial complex, the message you get from the system, the People’s History of the United States, trust, “You’ve got to be carefully taught”, confirmatory bias, This American Life episode about “Cops”, transgenerational trauma, American slavery, “pain travels”, integrating high schools, cynicism, confronting abuse of power, the importance of white people speaking up on racist issues, the importance of straight people to speak on the importance of LBGTQA issues, getting involved in your community, civil rights, the New Orleans Saints, being the only person of color or the only white person at a party, the CTA, music is the universal language, knowledge is the cure, having discussions, bringing more awareness, finding a common ground, get out of your comfort zone, you get the same energy back that you put out there, honesty and authenticity,

Links from episode:

This American Life regarding the show “Cops” https://www.thisamericanlife.org/675/im-on-tv/act-one-7

“You’ve got to be carefully taught”
https://genius.com/Richard-rodgers-youve-got-to-be-carefully-taught-lyrics

Transgenerational Trauma
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgenerational_trauma

Baer, D. (2016, July 08). The Dallas Police Force Is Evidence That 'De-escalation' Policing Works. Retrieved from https://www.thecut.com/2016/07/deescalation-policing-works.html

Chris Blount runs a music and podcast studio (On Purpose Recordings) in Tacoma, Washington. He is a Father, Husband, Hip-Hop Artist, podcaster, and jack-of-all trades. Chris is the host of two podcasts, Profoundly Ignorant and Chris Talks. Chris grew up in New Orleans. After Hurricane Katrina devastated his neighborhood, he moved to Chicago, IL —where he and Paul Krauss became friends. Chris lives with his wife and three children in Tacoma, Washington. 

Paul Krauss MA LPC is the Clinical Director of Health for Life Grand Rapids, home of The Trauma-Informed Counseling Center of Grand Rapids. Paul is also a Private Practice Psychotherapist, EMDRIA Consultant in Training (CIT), host of the Intentional Clinician podcast, Behavioral Health Consultant, Clinical Trainer, and Counseling Supervisor. Paul is now offering consulting for a few individuals and organizations. Paul is the creator of the National Violence Prevention Hotline (in progress)  as well as the Intentional Clinician Training Program for Counselors. Questions? Call the office at 616-200-4433. 

If you are looking for EMDRIA consulting groups, Paul Krauss MA LPC is now hosting weekly online and in-person groups.  For details, click here.

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Original Music (used with permission):

“Drifting Away” featuring Pawl from Open Wounds by Chris Blount

“Drifting Away” [Instrumental] from Open Wounds by Chris Blount

“Running of the Dead” Featuring Julia Massey from Great and Powerful by Gentlemen of Leisure Collective (GoL.Life)

“Cheers” from I WIN by Chris Blount

“Only You” featuring Chris Blount from I’m Not Here by Pawl & Keeynote

More by the Gentlemen of Leisure collective here: https://soundcloud.com/leisuregents

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