A White Man's Journey Into Black History

I would like to share with you a life changing experience which came about after I watched your DVD entitled "A White Man's Journey into Black History":

I am a Black American who has carried a great deal of resentment toward Whites in this country because of the legacy of slavery and the ongoing institutional racism which we as a people continue to face today.   Thinking of the pain and suffering which my ancestors endured nearly drove me mad.  I became interested in Black History during family reunions on my mother's side.

Unlike a majority of Black Americans I am able to trace family roots on my mother's side to slavery days. I stopped researching my family history because I was becoming obsessed with voices from the past.  I am convinced that one of my ancestors was raped by a white man and her voice cried out to me from the grave.  It was too much to bear so I left it alone.

On my mother's side, many of her sisters are light skinned.  The family in Georgia who owned my ancestors and whose name my mother bore wanted nothing to do with us.  Yet the connection is so obvious, the pain is so great, the legacy of Black-White relations in America today.  Many of those who knew the truth about how we are related, Blacks and Whites are now dead or very old. These Whites in Georgia not only did not want to acknowledge that we were related but also did not want to acknowledge us a part of the family.

We were not seeking reparations, only an admission that we were common blood relatives.  So I became bitter and hostile.  I hated White folks. Little did I realize at the time that I hated myself. I hated the very blood which poured through my veins.  It is said that you can love others only if you love yourself.  It naturally follows that you can only hate others if you hate yourself.  Hatred is born of ignorance and self loathing.  It is painful.  It is consuming.

Then I watched your  DVD. Perhaps the Pharaoh of the Bible who Moses contended with might have been a Black African. He probably owned countless slaves and was likely as ruthless and as fierce as any slave owner in our recent past. Pharaoh's heart was hard just as my heart had become hardened.

What you communicated on the DVD and the way you communicated it has helped me end the cycle of despair, anger, and self loathing.

To let go of all this anger and bitterness has brought me so much peace!  I am no longer obsessed with race and the evils of racism.

"It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of reference for Dr. Joel Freeman.

"This office has the responsibility to consult and counsel with individuals who bring a number of issues to the job that affects their personal life functioning and/or job performance. Additionally, we see many people file complaints based on allegations of discrimination.

"I have known and had the opportunity to request the services of Dr. Freeman for the past seven years. Over the years we have made numerous referrals to Dr. Joel Freeman of The Freeman Institute. He has assisted employees with Critical Incident Debriefings as they relate to stress, anger management, grief, sexual harassment and other related issues that accompany traumatic events.
  "Dr. Freeman has been an invaluable resource to our agency/office, always willing to assist our employees in working through the difficulties or situations they have encountered in their work and personal lives.

"Whenever we have contacted him regardless of the hour, which is often beyond expected duty hours, he has been available to offer assistance in obtaining needed services or information. The comfort of knowing that we have access to someone of Dr. Freeman capabilities is reassuring and is an asset to anyone working in our metropolitan area and beyond.
  Our clients have enthusiastically raved about the services they have received from Dr. Freeman with comments such as “it’s so easy to talk with him”---“I got so much from Dr. Freeman about life and living”---"He has helped me think within the moment and not skip all the way to end and predict the outcome”.

One of our top management officials wanted to know --- “where have you been hiding him? When I was discussing one of my subordinates with him, he gave me some invaluable information. I feel like I need to have a few sessions with him myself!”

"Dr. Freeman is truly worthy of this letter of recommendation. It is very hard in these days and times to find an individual so committed to his work and willing to make a difference in helping others make positive changes in their lives."

"I’m pleased to have the opportunity to share with you what a precious asset Dr. Freeman has been to us and would certainly be the same to anyone having need of such services for their organization.

"He has exhibited a genuine concern for the quality of life and is a highly perceptive person. His outlook in any situation is perseverance until the objective has been reached."

Sincerely,
Jean Pitts
A. Jean Pitts, Chief (retired)
Office of EEO Employee Counseling Service
Bureau of Engraving & Printing, Washington, D.C.