Betrayal Trauma

"I propose that the core issue is betrayal -- a betrayal of trust that produces conflict between external reality and a necessary system of social dependence." — Jennifer J. Freyd

Betrayal Blindness is the unawareness, not-knowing, and forgetting exhibited by people towards betrayal. This blindness may extend to betrayals that are not traditionally considered "traumas," such as adultery, inequities in the workplace and society, etc. ¹ Dr. Jennifer J. Freyd, who is author of the terms "Betrayal Trauma" and "Betrayal Trauma Theory," wrote in 1999 "We now have a much clearer picture of the conditions that make human memory vulnerable to suggestion and distortion. We are beginning to understand the relevance of factors such as event plausibility and social authority." ² As we go deeper we learn that victims, perpetrators, and witnesses may exhibit Betrayal Blindness in an effort to maintain relationships, institutions, and social systems upon which they depend.

This is part five (5) of a seven (7) part series examining why Black Leadership rejects the Pro-Life movement, is helping to perpetrate the genocide of their own people and what can be done to reverse this horrific reality.

Betrayal Trauma: Turning A Blind Eye

"You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it." — MALCOLM X, speech, Thursday, January 7th, 1965. Just six (6) weeks before he was assassinated Sunday, February 21st, 1965 in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom.

The Number Four Reason Black leadership rejects the Pro-Life movement is that he or she is: Un-Informed. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), the former research arm of Planned Parenthood, 30% Of All Abortions Are Performed On Black Women. ³ According to the National Vital Statistics Reports of 2009, in 2005 there were 587,000 Live Black Births, 452,000 Induced Black Abortions and 292,808 Black Deaths from all causes, excluding induced abortion. ⁴ If we do the math we have 587,000 Live Black Births against 744,808 Black Deaths (i.e., 452,000 Induced Black Abortions + 292,808 Black Deaths from all other causes) which equates to a Black Life Deficit of a Negative 157,808. ⁵ Abortion, which has taken the lives of more Black Americans than heart disease, cancer, strokes, accidents, diabetes, homicide, and chronic lower respiratory diseases combined, is the number one (1) cause of death in Black America. ⁶ In the last thirty-eight (38) years Black Americans have suffered the loss of over twenty (20) million lives to abortion alone. ⁷ Still further, these numbers do not include those aborted by abortifacients such as ellaOne ⁸ or by "private physicians' procedures." How is it possible for Black Leadership to miss this? Is simply being Un-Informed a plausible explanation? Could the depth of our responsibility for the death of our own children be so deep, that we can no longer fathom right from wrong? Could the blood on our hands be so rich and red, that we blind ourselves to the truth? Could the pain from helping to perpetrate the genocide of our own people have left us blind, deaf and dumb? Could the cost of the silence in our pulpits have left us morally bankrupt? Could the results of our own betrayal of our cherished Christian values be so traumatic that in order to maintain relationships with institutions, and social authorities, we deliberately turned a "Blind Eye" to the realities of abortion all around us and in plain sight?

Betrayal Trauma: Was Blind, But Now I See …

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that sav'd a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see." — Christian hymn written by English poet and clergyman John Newton, (1725—1807)

I was not always aware of the creeping culture of death in my own community. Like many I relied on others (Black Leadership) to keep me informed. If I did not hear a biblical perspective from the pulpit, it was not relevant to my world. Yes, I was wrong. While our Pastors and leaders bear the responsibility of being watchmen on the wall (Ezekiel 33:1-6), as a member of the Body of Christ, I have a personal responsibility to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to apply His Word to my life at all times. For years, I was guilty of living out my Christianity through others. Finally, God used the pre-mature birth of my son and the immediate possibility of his death to open my eyes. It was not until I knew better that I was available to God that I might do better. With more death than life in Black America, the clock is ticking and our survival is what's running out of time. If Jude 22 ⁹ is right, then all we need to do is strengthen our performance of compassionate acts. Surely, more of this is needed. However, in light of the Apostle Paul's 2nd Timothy 4:3 ¹⁰ warning, Jude 23 ¹¹ is what must be done today to reach my people.

^♥ THE QUESTION IS: Who among us is willing to risk it all by going into a house on fire to wrestle with those who are burning in the fires of betrayal trauma?

^♥ THE ANSWER IS: Only those who have already suffered the burns of betrayal trauma and bear in their body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:17), can rescue those who are blind to the fires of betrayal.

This is why I sing … "AMAZING GRACE, how sweet the sound, that sav'd a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."