Heal the Psychological Wounds of Caribbean Slavery

Men abused and forced to feel powerless. To become emotionless studs. Unable to protect their families from harm.

Women abused and forced to feel powerless. To become unnecessarily strong and emotionless. To protect their families because their men couldn’t.

That was the reality of slaves within the Caribbean for generations.

Emotional violation of God’s sons and daughters. Our sisters and brothers.

But slavery ended. So everything should be okay, right?

Slavery was abolished in the British Caribbean on August 1, 1834. The last Caribbean country declared independence on September 19, 1983.

But the inter-generational psychological, and social effects of that day-to-day emotional violation remains.

We see it in our children, families and communities daily.

High rates of: violence, suicide, single-parent homes, distant spouses, anxiety, sexual abuse, addictions, you name it.

At the root of those fruits lies a single culprit.

Many of these people are men, women and children battling self-worth and psychological issues. Performing every day to survive. Yet, their true flamingo selves and potential sit on the sidelines of their life. They need emotional support. They need better emotional wellness. 

That was my reality, my story. The story of an anxious ambitious people-pleasing, sexually-molested-as-a-child surviving Jamaican woman who burnt out twice and almost lost my mind and life before my 30th birthday.

That was the reality of many men I interacted with. The story of men (husbands, sons and brothers) suffering in silence. Feeling like they can’t express themselves emotionally. Showing up as the stud or provider and protector with no safe space or tools to express their feelings.

That was the reality of many women I spoke with and encouraged. The story of women (daughters, wives and sisters) suffering in silence. Forced to be “strong superwomen” out of necessity or the promiscuous woman. Shaggy sings about the strength of the Caribbean woman. They too struggled to understand and express their emotions.

This is the problem every single Pink Flamingo book and initiative is designed to tackle. 

This is the problem we invite you to partner with us to rectify.

Let us work together to empower, equip and inspire Caribbean people to address their psychological wounds and gain the emotional wellness they need to live joyful, peaceful lives, reclaim their voices, and embrace their pink flamingo selves and purpose beyond our lifetime.