I'm not white & I have an eating disorder
Such a simple seeming statement carrying so many implications. As are most of the services and resources in the Western world, eating disorder counseling and treatment are aimed at white folks. Hell, EATING itself is aimed at white folks! ("White Girl Asian Food"?!?!) When POC struggle with food, it is seen as simply a bad habit, not health-threatening behavior. Perhaps this is because our lives are perceived to be less valuable than white folks? Perhaps it is our fault? Perhaps we should just be grateful that we are not starving in a third world country?
FUCK THAT.
Over these next few months, I commit to exploring eating disorders in myself, communities of color, and the Asian Pacific Islander communities. You are invited to join.
We'll start here- these are my notes/ideas from a workshop presented by my wonderful friend and inspiration Gloria of @nalgonapride, a Chicana body love movement based in Los Angeles. She and the NPP community catalyzed and nurtured my struggle into tangibility, as it exists as Lost Lotus here and now. I am ever so grateful ❤❤🌹🌹🍩🍩 Please, read her blog, buy her merch, and send her Krispy Kreme donuts!
"I'm Not White and I Have An Eating Disorder"
Historical trauma literally stresses genes, affecting future generations- "genetic predisposition" i.e. famine>overfeeding>overeating
Why do I compulsively overeat?- We are still in the past. We are stuck in the famine and haven't been allowed to heal (capitalism does not give us time to heal) We will behave in response to our ancestors' environment. We are eating for the past.
*post traumatic slave syndrome.
We are embodying that trauma of generations past, our ancestors hurt.
A dysfunctional adaptation of ceremony
How do we heal from historical trauma? -refuse assimilation -talk about it: acknowledge and recognize bullshit -know where you come from -decolonize your diet: the food of the oppressors are a tool of oppressionĵ, making us weak (inherently and intentionally unhealthy food) and dependent (controlled food supply)
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your body, my body is a tangible trophy of survival and resistance you don't walk out of jail, you don't walk out of the past. you crawl. you struggle. you eat. you pray. you grit your teeth. & smile for all those who lived before you, for the legacy of resistance and to all those who thought they could bury that legacy ya'll didn't know we were seeds
