Short Takes: Erika Totten

Bio: Erika Totten is a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement in Washington, D.C., and the black liberation movement at large. She is a former high school English literature teacher, a wife, a stay-at-home mom, and an advocate for the radical healing and self-care of black people through “emotional emancipation circles.”

1. How did you get started with “emotional emancipation” work?
Emotional emancipation circles were created in partnership with The Association of Black Psychologists and the Community Healing Network. I was blessed to be one of the first people trained in D.C. I had been doing this work before I knew what it was called. My organization is called “Unchained.” It is liberation work—psychologically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

I want to tell people to be intentional about self-care. Recently, we had a black trans teen, who was an activist, commit suicide. A lot of times you need to see a counselor or therapist, which is often shunned in the black community. Because of racism, we are taught that we need to be “strong.” But it’s costing us our lives. As much as we are dismantling systems, we have to dismantle anything within ourselves that is keeping us from experiencing liberation right now.

2. What does liberation look like to you?
It’s a multitude of things, and it changes every day. But mainly it is having the space to be. To just exist. To not have to perform. It is the ability to exist and live life unapologetically. You don’t have to accept me, but my life shouldn’t be in danger because of my skin. And for my children, liberation means walking down the street and not being harassed. Liberation means living.

3. Why is “black lives matter” hitting such a chord these days?
When we say “black lives matter,” we mean all black lives. If we say we’re anti-oppression, we have to tackle all the systems. So we attack homo-antagonism, transphobia, misogyny, misognoir—which is misogyny particular to black women.

You can’t deny [racism] now. We no longer have to rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. Our parents didn’t have 24-hour access to community news growing up. They couldn’t amplify a message with a single retweet. We are effortlessly connected globally now. For instance, we are connecting our liberation to our brothers and sisters in Brazil who are experiencing genocide. That’s a big deal.

4. Has religion or spirituality played a role for you in this work?
I do believe we are all created in the image of God. I know that everything God is, I am—peace, abundance, compassion, gentleness, wisdom, truth, power.

People forget that Jesus flipped over tables. They don’t want to talk about that part. As Christians we need to think, “Where would Jesus be?” He would be with the people.

A lot of times when we’re doing actions, we don’t know if we’re coming home. We’re being followed by police. They put you in handcuffs and take you away if you are a leader in the movement. So when I know that what I am doing is righteous, that God is with me and protecting my children, everything else—the critics and all of that—just falls to the side.

5. What role do you wish the churches would play in the movement?
I wish the churches would just stand up. Faith without works is dead. So what are your “works,” and are they making you uncomfortable? Because if you are comfortable, there is no growth. If standing up and forming a line in front of the police makes you uncomfortable, then you do that. Because you’re supposed to be protecting us and speaking up for us. All churches should have an antiracism training and white dominant culture training. They need to have these hard conversations. And not be defensive. Just listen and stand up.