Ken’s Oral History

Description

Ken is a genderfluid transmasculine Black person who was 19 at the time of recording. When listening to Ken's oral history, know that Ken is a system. Please read Ken's own statement about DID and systemhood. Ken talked about an early life marred with memory gaps because they have had to reconcile snippets of the past from systemhood. They talk about being bullied and harassed as well as struggling with mental illness, suicidal tendencies, in and out patient treatment in their high school years. Ken candidly shares what it was like knowing they had people in their head growing up and the self-soothing tactics they developed like art, music, and lego-building. When talking about their life, Ken spoke about early childhood assault. Ken also covered their alters and talked about the Lesbian ones. Ken spoke about discovering their queerness from middle school and the importance of art and art-making when figuring their identities. Ken ends talking about why they might not have many Lesbian friends, what identifying as a Lesbian meant to them, and when they are happiest as a Lesbian.