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Using ritual to bring cultural trauma into public memory
 

For the month of February the Political Healers Project will be facilitating a video story sharing campaign called “Our Black History.” We are inviting Black people and folks with Black people in their lives to share stories of those Black people overcoming, healing, having joy etc. Share stories of the ways in which Black people have moved and inspired you, helped you to overcome, to heal, or to find joy. Folks sharing authentic stories of everyday Black heroism is Black History too, not just the things that make the headlines.

These everyday Black heroes are often the ones who hold us, carry us, nurture us, and fight for us. As Political Healers, we are tasked with using ritual to bring cultural trauma into public memory – to change the conversation and reach people in a new way. To force ourselves to grapple with erasure, exploitation and injustice, and to begin to heal it.

Will you join us?

How to Participate

 
 
#OurBlackHistory Hands.png
 

#OurBlackHeroes Story Sharing Video Campaign

CELEBRATE YOUR BLACK HISTORY BY CELEBRATING THE BLACK HEROES IN YOUR LIFE!

The purpose of this video making campaign is to create and expand our public memory of the innovation, creativity and transformative contributions that everyday Black people make in our lives and in this country. 

Our plan for these videos is to create a curated collage of stories and experiences about black heroes in our lives. In short, we want to create a video that demonstrates our Black Public Memory. This would mean more people getting to know you and your black hero. Their story gets heard by more people and, if enough people hear their story, it becomes a part of public memory. This is an opportunity to celebrate the black people that you care about and that have cared about and held you!

Option 1: Create a video where you acknowledge a black hero in your life - who they are and the difference they’ve made;


Option 2: Invite someone in your life to create a video where they honor a black hero in their life;


Option 3: Invite or attend the “Our Black History: Virtual Story Sharing Event” on 2/18

 

What to Do with Your Videos

Post the video on your social media – publicly honor the Black heroes in your life this month! Include Political Healers in your post with the following hashtags: #OurBlackHistory #OurBlackHeroes, #PoliticalHealers.

Submit your video to Political Healers for the Black Public Memory video collage.

 

Here are a few stories of Black heroes

 
 
 

#OurBlackHeroes Video Making Instructions

 
 
 

Video Specifications

  • Product: A well-lit video with clear picture and sound.

  • Video Stars: any person who wants to honor and appreciate a Black person in their life.

  • Size & Format: The file should be no more than 15GB or 90 seconds long, and should be saved in any of the following formats: mp4, MOV, wmv.

Recommendations

  • Be yourself. Try to pay less attention to what you're doing on the video and more attention to the story that you’re sharing.

  • If you have one, include a photo of your Black hero in your video, or submit it with your video.

 

Video Submission Instructions

Submit your video to Political Healers, via Dropbox* to include it in the Black Public Memory video collage. Submissions should be no more than 15GB or 90 seconds long, and should be saved in any of the following formats: mp4, MOV, wmv.

Before submitting, save your file as “OBH.FLastName.State.BHLastName.” EXAMPLE: “OBH.MLovegood.PA.SHughs” If choose to also submit a picture of your Black Hero, save that file as “FLastName.State.PIC” EXAMPLE: “MLovegood.PA.PIC”

Remember only videos with less than 15 GB limit (or 90 seconds long) can be uploaded.

* Dropbox will ask for your email address only to ensure that you are not a spambot - FYI.

 

Sample Video Script

Question/Prompt: Who is a black hero in your life? Why do you see them as heroic? What difference have they made in your life?

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My name is [NAME], I use [PRONOUNS], and I am recording this for you today from [NEIGHBORHOOD/CITY]. A black hero in my life is [BLACK HERO]. They are a hero to me because [INSERT YOUR STORY]. The difference that they made in my life was/has been [INSERT YOUR STORY].

(NOTE: if you have a picture of the person, it would be great if you could show it for up to 5 sec during your video making, to add another visual to your story.)

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 STORIES

Here are a few stories from Political Healers across the country about the Black heroes in their lives. Who are YOUR Black heroes?