TheFive Stages of Grief In a Police State

The Five Stages of Grief In a Police State

STORY BY DARIUS FAULK ART BY ELLINOR RUNDHOVDE PHOTO BY MICHAEL QUINTERO DESIGN BY MICHAEL QUINTERO

In life, we all experience grief. And as we go through it, the pain feels unbearable. During this process, we move through the five stages of grief that are supposed to make the loss bearable once we make it through each phase.

But how do you grieve when you know another loss is unavoidable? When another loss occurs during the grieving process? When the loss is justified by the State? Denial

The first stage of grief is denial. This is the slim reprieve we give ourselves hoping that the worst has been avoided. When another name starts to trend, there is no denying what we know will happen. Denial is replaced with the slow creep of dread—the terrifying realization that another body lies cold in the street. Anger

Yeah, we mad; We big mad. It is more than anger though. In this stage, you begin to cycle through a kaleidoscope of emotions, settling on one for a moment before becoming overwhelmed with the next. The sheer force of such a process leads us wanting nothing less than to burn it all down.

Bargaining

We tried bargaining in the 60s. And even before during the Civil War. We have tried to bargain for our humanity through politics. And we have tried to bargain for our humanity through music. We have written poetry, led marches, held speeches, and set shit on fi re.

We have asked, repeatedly, for our brothers and sisters to consider us as much. For them to realize that we have loved and bled for this country, and that we know no other place as home. What more do we have to bargain with? What more do we need to give? Depression

Let me refer you to my therapist, or my spiritual guide. Would you like to meet my priest? How about the collection of mindfulness apps that clutter my phone. How about my yoga instructor? My dealer? What about my second therapist? My aunts, uncles, cousins, mother, father, and friends?

“Yeah, we mad; We big mad. It is more than anger though.”

Acceptance

In the fi nal stage of the grieving process, we are supposed to accept the tragedy and fi nd a way to move forward with life. But before it is possible to move on, the inevitable happens again. Another name starts to trend and the dread starts to creep.

We will not accept another body lying cold in the street.

If you are struggling with mental health during this time, please reach out to Counseling & Psychological Services. We love you Titans. TU SK