Why Are We So Angry?

By Alfred R Washington

This book is filled with a number of actual traumatizing experiences in Alfred and Joyce’s life. We, for the last thirty-five years, have had individual group and marriage counseling.
The result of all of our trauma has leaked into our marriage. We find ourselves still processing the pain from the sins committed against us. Just because we have forgiven those who have hurt us does not mean we have forgotten what happened to us. Our minds are like computers—it takes our thoughts and experiences and stores them in our subconsciousness.
Recently we were blessed to be able to go over the Rwanda to participate in a Rwanda Mission Conference on teaching husbands and wives how to “become one.”
The trip to Africa helped us realize how fortunate we are to be citizens of the United States of America, no matter how unperfect the United States of America is.
Hallelujah!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887513157

Book preview

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Why Are We So Angry?

Alfred R Washington

ISBN 979-8-88751-314-0 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88751-315-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Alfred R Washington and Joyce Washington

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Alfred's Dad: Alfred Ronald Washington Sr.

Joyce's Dad: Thomas Bernard Shepard

Alfred's Mom: Elaine Washington

Joyce's Mother: Alice L. Gilbert-Cato and Big Mama Victoria Gilbert

Alfred's Physical Abuse

Joyce's Physical Abuse: Alice, Victoria, Diana

Joyce Ann Gilbert and Menow Menosis Davis: Son Lafayette Davis

Joyce and Alfred Ronald Washington: Son Jason Ronald Gilbert-Washington

Alfred's Sexual Abuse

Joyce's Sexual Abuse

Joyce's Four-Legged Baby: Buddy Washington, Jr.

The Effect of Slavery

Conclusion

Authors' Note

About the Authors

In loving memory of our daughter, Danyunique Delois Washington

December 4, 1978–June 24, 2014

Acknowledgments

We thank Elaine and Carolyn for their help and advice with this project.

Introduction

We have heard it said that African Americans carry a chip on their shoulders. From our experiences, African Americans seem to carry more anger than any other cultures. This is an issue that we have observed throughout our personal and professional lives. We have had many lengthy discussions among ourselves with professionals and colleagues throughout our lives about this issue.

We have concluded that African Americans' life experiences has produced anger that has not been processed. We have also concluded that some of this anger is generational stuff; that is to say anger that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Our hope is that the African American community would read this book objectively and other cultures of this great country would allow themselves to walk in the shoes of the African Americans.

Chapter 1

Alfred's Dad: Alfred Ronald Washington Sr.

My dad was from a little town in Louisiana called Killona. He and my mother was married when my dad was twenty and my mom was fourteen. My hunch is this information would have most of you thinking, Oh, I see problems ahead. You're right, the problems maybe began at the age of three. There were two children born out of this marriage—my brother Oscar and myself. By the time I was three, my parents were divorced. My parents had two other children from other relationships, two girls—one by my mother and one by my father.

My brother and I was sent to Louisiana to live with our grandmother, Laura Washington, my dad's mother. I think that I only saw my dad one time in fifteen years while I was in Louisiana. That was when