My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts

Resmaa Menakem, MSW, LICSW, SEP, is the author of My Grandmother’s Hands, the first book to examine white supremacy in the US from the perspective of trauma and body-centered psychology.

Menakem’s professional background makes him uniquely qualified to address the trauma of white supremacy. He is an experienced therapist who specializes in couples’ trauma, conflict relationships, and domestic violence prevention. Menakem established Cultural Somatics, an area of study and practice that draws connections between trauma and resilience, on the one hand, and history, intergenerational relationships, institutions, and the communal body, on the other. Menakem mentors emerging justice leaders and works as a trainer for the Minneapolis Police Department. In addition, he is a trauma consultant for the St. Paul Public Schools and Director of Counseling Services for the Tubman Family Alliance, a domestic violence treatment centre in Minneapolis. Menakem is also the behavioral health director for African American Family Services in Minneapolis, a domestic violence counselor for the Wilder Foundation, a divorce and family mediator, a social worker and consultant for the Minneapolis public school system, a community organizer, and a consultant for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

In his capacity as a trauma therapist, Menakem has worked with civilian contractors in Afghanistan and managed wellness and counseling services on over 50 US military bases.