This history of racism has created trauma across generations for entire communities, fueling a cycle of violence and incarceration. Without understanding the cycle, we punish people for living in neighborhoods where exposure to high levels of violence and victimization create predictable, perpetual cycles of harm. These challenges are then seen as evidence for racist narratives about people of color and violence, rather than the result of violence and injustice inflicted on communities for generations.

Consider that communities of color in some cities plagued by violence have been found to have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder than veterans returning home from war. Young people of color in low-income communities are most profoundly harmed by the combination of violence and incarceration, as well as the narrative that casts them in a role of causing harm even when they have been victimized.

To achieve racial equity, we need to reckon with our history as a nation, including the history of our justice system as a tool for upholding slavery, segregation, and discrimination. When we are accountable to that history and work to repair the harm that persists today, only then can we build approaches to justice that are trauma-informed and rooted in the values of equity, well-being, and restoration.

Our Approach

When we talk about trauma—in every aspect of our work—we emphasize historical trauma and community trauma as fundamental to the unique experiences of people of color in the U.S. Our work actively challenges false narratives about people of color by demonstrating the links between racism, trauma, violence, and mass incarceration. Our advocacy and organizing builds leadership and elevates voices of color in order to shift power and ensure that solutions center the communities most impacted by violence and the justice system.

We are committed to ensuring that racial equity is integrated into every facet of EJUSA, both internally and externally. We strive to build an organization for which dismantling white supremacy is at the core of our external work, embedded in our internal structures, felt deeply by our staff and our partners, embodied in our voice, and confidently represented by our leadership.

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