“LOVE LIBERATES”- Visual

 John Harris

ENGL 2017-64187

Dr. Jaleesa Harris

29 April 2025


Final Project

“LOVE LIBERATES”


The visual above depicts the cycle/journey of letting go of trauma, hurt, and lovelessness, leading to the acceptance of love, fulfillment, and support. The most important aspect of the illustration is the middle, displaying the transitional stages between love and trauma. The pain of past hurt from abuse and/or unfaithfulness can lead to a sense of lovelessness, often causing an individual to close. The best way to deal with such an experience is through the practice of self-love. In chapter three of bell hooks book Salvation, self-love is an important part of rediscovering love in the African American community and is not selfish (hooks).When oneself works to grow and finds love within, the trauma, although not forgotten, but placed aside to make room for the potential to receive and/or give love to grow also. The moment a new partner or friend comes along to give love, the capacity to receive it is strong once again, if not stronger than before. As a result, love transcends and returns in one’s life, because of the deep mutual respect and loyalty between couples or friends. With this, a sense of fulfillment and an abundance of support breaks a person free from their trauma and doubts, reminding them that they are worthy of love.

It seems unorthodox, but love and trauma are intertwined in a loop that leads from traumatic experiences to feelings of love. In simpler words, love can liberate one from negative circumstances, including trauma. However, it has proven to be a difficult process for most individuals. In more ways than one, trauma can diminish a person’s ability to receive love. Because of prior experiences of losing love from a friend, or significant other, a person can be overwhelmed by the fear of being heartbroken again, or the belief that it is not real. In her book titled Salvation, bell hooks introduced lovelessness, the absence of love. She mentions that the term was felt in the black community in the earlier years. She went on to state that the reasoning behind the lovelessness was the early history of enslavement of our ancestors and the continued racist discrimination and dehumanization of African Americans (hooks). In some ways, this behavior is still occurring today. However, that does not mean love cannot liberate us from this feeling. It takes self-confidence, self-respect, self-worth, and self-love.





Work Cited Page

Primary Source:

Hooks, Bell. Salvation : Black People and Love. New York, William Morrow, 2001.


Additional Sources:

Walker, Denise. “ENGL 2017 Black Love and Liberation.” Received by John Harris.

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“How to Accept Love after Trauma | Clearheart Counselling.” Clearheart Counselling, 30 Jan. 2023, www.clearheartcounselling.com/how-to-accept-love-after-trauma/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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