Overcoming Trauma - a look into a life affected by childhood trauma // Part II

This is the second part of Rudi's story, a man whose life was completely affected by the memories of childhood trauma and his attempt to overcome it.
''When you use drugs, not only places the trauma on hold, but it places the side effects of the trauma on hold'' Rudi Richardson
After the World War II, between 1945 and 1955, around 5000 mixed-raced babies were born as a result of the love affairs between black American soldiers and white German women.
Many of these children were taken from their mothers and sent to orphanages in order to hide them from society, where some of them were badly abused.
They were called ''brown babies''.
Rudi was one of the babies. Only later on, the memories of this traumatic experience started to arise and it badly affected his mental health, which led to a life of substance abuse, prison and homelessness.
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Rudi has recently published a book about his story. If you would like to support him and learn more about his story, you can buy the book here: www.amazon.com....
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[@epochstories]

As the interview was getting to an end I've asked Rudi: - ''How? How do you recover from everything that has happened to you?'' He smiled and said: - ''I think the thing for me is that I get back to the horse and I keep going for the prize'' He laughed and continued: - ''If success is staying clear and sober every day, then I'm a complete f**ing failure. But if success is keep coming back, continuing to try and continuing to move forwards, then I'm a success... I feel I'm recovering, but I'm not recovered'' Rudi is starting is own charity, helps homeless people getting a place to stay, gives them food and keeps helping other people in the 12 step program meetings. While still recovering, he focus on using the experience and knowledge he has to help others. If you would like to support him and learn in more detail his story (there's a lot more), you can buy he's recently published book: www.amazon.com/dp/1689439181 You can also read his blog at: opensoulz.wordpress.com/ Thank you

[@dismissing]

Rudi's right - he is an inspiration. Not only his ability to understand and analyse his errors and its causes amazing, his willpower is awe-inspiring. His story shows the importance of being compassionate and understanding to others, especially when they are in a terrible situation. Thank you so much for sharing this so all of us can see it.

[@epochstories]

The first time Rudi told me his story I was in shock. It's amazing how much he's been through and how far he has come. It was such a pleasure to learn about his story and capture it. Thank you!

[@trainsonplanes709]

It really is inspirational. I'm really glad he got to turn his life around. The ending with the song man, just perfect.

[@epochstories]

Thank you so much! When he started playing the piano and sing that song, I got goosebumps all over. So beautiful

[@sophiafern]

Thank you Epoch for, as always, beautiful and artistically brilliant filmmaking and storytelling.

[@epochstories]

Thank you so much Sophia

[@sldshinigami2869]

Here you come again.. with masterpiece

[@epochstories]

Thank you so much!

[@valery_gore]

Rudi, he is an inspiration. Such a wonderfully done documentary. I got choked up. His song performance sent it to the next level, what a voice. Such a wonderful collaboration between you two in allowing his story to be heard and seen.

[@epochstories]

Thank you very much Valery. I had such a good time meeting Rudi :)

[@nathangoswick8175]

You and Rudi are both inspirations. Watching your documentaries gets me excited to make another! Keep up the amazing work!

[@epochstories]

Thank you very much Nathan! Documentaries are really challenging but fun films to make. Every time I make one, I always learn new things to improve.

[@rudirichardson983]

Thank you. I want to thank Mario as he is an inspiration to me - young, talented and gifted and sensitive to the human spirit. I'm so glad that our paths have crossed.

[@InfiniteSoulRoots]

Rudi is indeed an inspiration, & he has a wonderful voice too! I hope he finds healing, & shares more of his talents with the world. ☮❤☯

[@L.u.l.i.l.a.]

Thank you for this wonderful piece of art, and Rudi is such an inspiration.

[@epochstories]

Thank you very much Luisa 😊

[@thomast1420]

This man is the most humble honest loving person ive ever known

[@trustisraw]

I'm from Phoenix Arizona and I stumbled upon your channel and I couldn't be any happier ! Thank you for your work ! so inspiring

[@epochstories]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoy the content :) I put a lot of effort into it!

[@juliaconnell]

I really appreciate Rudi sharing his story - and you enabling him to do this. I can relate to a lot of what he has gone through - esp in terms of trauma and turning to other things (for me, it has been alcohol)- as a coping mechanism) - doesn't deal with the underlying issues themselves & creates more issues (and talking to many others with similar issues, turning to similar coping mechanisms, it's the most loving, caring, sensitive, strong people who tend to do this - and when you hear their stories, you understand WHY they have used these substances to simply cope Rudi really is an inspiration. my only, hopefully constructive, feedback is that as interesting as Rudi story is, and your depiction of it is, it's not really a story, (to me, at least) of a 'brown baby' - a struggle to find his *identity* as the result of a heritage from an African-American solder and a white German woman - it seems to be more about his personal struggles with trauma, abuse, addiction, homelessness, the legal system... - it seems more from growing up in that dysfunctional fractured adopted family than being a 'brown baby' (maybe I'm wrong - just what I heard from listening to him...) while I understand that being a 'brown baby' may have had some impact on this - his childhood in that adopted home (from the first part) was way more dysfunctional as a result of other issues relating to his adopted family rather than his identity as a 'brown baby' - (or so it seems to me) - and I'm so sorry he was abused - however this is not unique to 'brown babies' it just feels like his story is his own - sure being a 'brown baby' is a significant part of that story to him, but it's not really the focus of this really at all - he talks far more about other issues absolutely a story worth sharing - it's just having heard it, just not sure that the 'brown baby' perspective is where the focus should be since it's not really addressed directly throughout (e.g. what does it mean to him to be part German - to come from this fraught background... to be a son of a white German woman as a result of the war - apart from saying he didn't like it in Germany it's not really addressed - nor is being the son of an American solder and adopted by an American family, served in the American army, but still not a American citizen - not German, not American.... that - about identity, culture... that's what intrigues me about 'brown babies' and their unique perspective and identity... and - I'm just not sure I get an insight into 'brown babies' from his story - that this is their typical experience - does this make sense?? I hope this is constructive, as it is intended to be again, I really appreciate Rudi sharing his story - and you enabling him to do this. it is a story worth sharing, very inspirational I understand how much love, work and time goes into each of these pieces - they are beautiful works of art - you should be proud.

[@epochstories]

Thank you so much for your insightful comment Julia. To be honest with you, I've been debating this myself. In the interview we did address a lot of these questions. However, as the story was getting more and more complex, I decided to focus on another direction. I do feel the title might not be fitting anymore. Like you said, the abuse he suffered was an extremely traumatic experience, but I don't really approach what it means to be a ''Brown Baby'' for Rudi in the documentary. It's a shame the title is already in the video itself, because otherwise I would have changed it. I completely agree with your feedback and I really appreciate it. I also want to say a big thank you for sharing a bit about yourself. I really hope you manage to cope with whatever challenges you're facing in life, and I hope all these stories give you inspiration and motivation to overcome those challenges. Thank you so much for your constant support!

[@juliaconnell]

@@epochstories thank you for responding so positively - I think because we've communicated before you'd appreciate some honest constructive feedback. yes I though you would have had to edit down content, and that you probably would have covered these topics at some point. I wouldn't worry too much about it - it's all good - it's still really interesting, and the title is still relevant, and can't think of a better alternative or approach - as with most works of art the creative process does develop over time, and what starts out as one thing becomes more complex over time - just as people and their stories do thank you - I've been dealing with the underlying issues and relying less and less on other coping mechanisms, and these stories certainly do help - thank you

[@rudirichardson983]

@@juliaconnell Thank you for your honesty. You touched my heart. Kind regards, Rudi - I agree regarding the Brown Baby title - at the time I felt that it was important to speak on the plight of Brown Babies, however, you are correct - it is my personal story.

[@juliaconnell]

@@rudirichardson983 oh how lovely to hear from you - thank you, I'm really touched - you have been through soooo much and emerged as such a wiser, stronger and more loving person - towards yourself - and others - I'm grateful you made it through all these really challenging challenges in your life - as I said above, I completely understand - you start with one thing - being a brown baby - and life is just more complex, you are more complex, than that one description of you and you did succeed - I had never heard of brown babies before - let alone knew that there were so many - let alone the abuse you shared - now I know - thank you - and so sorry this happened to you thank you for sharing your life with us, for being such an inspiration, very much appreciated. sending much love from New Zealand xx

[@epochstories]

@@juliaconnell I'm always open for feedback. There's a lot I need to improve, so it's always great to get some feedback. Keep it coming :)

[@Tanoaproductionsfiji]

My friend you have a talent of storytelling. Keep doing what you do. And Rudi! You are the meaning of inspiration. Thank you both!

[@epochstories]

Thank you very much! I'll try my best to keep sharing inspiring stories like these one :)

[@yasmoh-Iqb]

Thank you EPOCH, your mini-doc doesn't look at all one-man job, it's far better than many big names, I wish they were longer, so I can learn more. I wish you get more funding and platforms like Netflix to bring amazing stories you are collecting. And thanks Rudi, all the people around him helping him come out where he is, I wish he keeps growing and a lot more people can do so.

[@epochstories]

Thank you so much Yasser. To be very honest, I like the idea of sharing these stories for free. I want them to be available to anyone in the world, so they can inspire as many people as possible :)

[@ChristopherRusanowsky]

You’re channel deserves more attention!

[@epochstories]

Thank you Christopher! Hopefully it will get there someday :)

[@juniorlinden7030]

Another amazing one.

[@epochstories]

Thank you so much Junior :)

[@latrastiendameza1408]

Such great story. Love your work!

[@TreyDewitt]

where did you get the music??

[@TreyDewitt]

an awesome story!

[@epochstories]

Thank you Trey! I get most of my music from musicbed :)

[@christyalmartin7400]

It's coming from how they had to normalize abuse from youth. Ya don't talk about it. It's all tragic. It must be stopped. Thanks for your work. Education. Starts somewhere. Mental health is so important.

[@JitterEye]

You *ARE* an inpsiration Rudi

[@epochstories]

He is indeed. And a really nice person too