To the editor:

As a black American male (and therapist), I have found Randy Krzmarzick’s article, “How about a life of love and service?”, (Marshall Independent, Feb. 24-25), heartening with the potential for bridging the gap among all disenfranchised people despite his salutation addressing a specific audience with, “Dear White males.” Krzmarzick, attesting that he too is a white male, writes poignantly about the Country’s division and racism with an agenda of healing. Having provided therapy in the field of mental health for years, I have often underscored that my succinct therapeutic process for healing (and/or change) to occur requires us to accurately name the problem, own our role in the problem, and have a willingness to change the problem.

Krzmarzick boldly declares one of the causal factors creating a fissure in our Country that he has identified is the angst of the aggrieved white male (AWM). As a member of the segment of American society he addresses (white males), Krzmarzick comes to the table with the credibility to speak, like a former addict pointing the way for another’s sobriety. His voice rings with legitimacy and will hopefully seep into the ears of those who desperately need to hear these salient points.

No matter how we “slice it and dice it” white male privilege and power remains supreme. Krzmarzick pushes back on this segment of American population to feel aggrieved. I support Krzmarzick’s problem recognition and his solution-focused optimism instilled within true Christian hearts of “love and service”. He highlighted themes of grievance, division, privilege, historical/contemporary racism, etc., which are all undergirded by fear. Fear (as does trauma) trigger maladaptive responses of fight, flight, freeze, fawn (appease), faint. We can’t function with a loving spirit to administer appropriate services when hobbled by fear.

Krzmarzick’s article was insightful (stemming from introspection and observation), informative and hopefully penetrates the prevailing fear that keeps citizens of this Country in being at odds with one another. Though I chuckled with his concluding statement, “…maybe we can convince our aggrieved brothers to take a chill,” I will humbly assert that we are not dismissive and that we only confront with kindness. Indeed, this sentiment is embodied in the title of Krzmarzick’s article, “How about a life of love and service?”

Dr. Al L. Holloway, Psy.D., MSW

Marshall