Black Gothic: The Psychological Effects

Hunter McLeod

Ms. Harris

English 2016-44378

Black Gothic: The Psychological Effects

If I’ve learned one thing from a semester of African American literacy focusing on the black gothic; is that the racial problems and subsequent mistreatment of black people in America is not a new issue. In fact, it’s an issue that dates back centuries, as someone well versed in history this wasn’t as shocking but it’s still depressing to confront something of such magnitude and know it’s still an issue today. The novels I’ve read throughout this class have transcended reading something in a history textbook. The slave narratives and all the spectacularly written novels are something that had I been exposed to outside class would have wanted to read. History can sometimes desensitize things and gloss over them. These novels delivered the psychological, spiritual, emotional, and physical trauma that people of African descent experienced. This post is going to examine some of the text I’ve read from a psychological point of view and tie it together with modern elements of black gothic in today’s society. 

A common element throughout all the reading was what could be described as P.T.S.D. (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) now while this does require an actual diagnosis reading through all the text the sheer amount of oppression and anxiety faced it would be easy to see something like P.T.S.D. being developed. In the world today mental health has advanced at a drastic rate so has the research and attention to disorders that were often overlooked especially in racial ethnic groups. “African Americans have higher rates of PTSD compared to whites, Hispanics, and Asian Americans.” (Roberts et al., 2011, Nolen-Hoeksema) After reading novels like Native Son by Richard Wright it puts the level of stress and characterization experienced by blacks in American society under a microscope. Seeing the effects of living in a society with a racialized past and present, it’s not a far stretch to think it could be a major causing factor among why African Americans would experience P.T.S.D. at a higher rate. Constructs like racial capitalism which can still be seen in the U.S. can keep minority groups from climbing the socio-economic ladder. “African Americans reported more traumas of certain types than did other groups, namely, witnessing domestic violence and being the victim of a violent assault.” (Roberts et al., 2011, Nolen-Hoeksema) Racial capitalism could be an explanatory factor here as African Americans subsequently experience lower socioeconomic status, in urban areas have overcrowded and over policed neighborhoods that lack the social services they need.

Trauma can also influence a key element of our lives, love. Discussed throughout our class and up to interpretation but from what I’ve read, and my psychological background trauma bonding is especially unique in “black love”. America has made numerous strides in the right direction over the last couple of decades yet no one else experiences what it’s like to be black in America. This level of historical shared systematic treatment can be a deciding factor in bonding. It is hard to imagine society having this large of an effect on our discissions especially ones so interpersonal. Although other factors are at play, the level society plays on us will probably never be fully understood, yet trauma bonding is very apparent throughout the black gothic genre in books like Toni Morrison’s Beloved and subsequently the black community. 

            Philosopher George Santayana wasn’t wrong when he said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Decades later this still rings true, I am grateful for the opportunity of exposure and the newly gained knowledge of the black gothic genre. I hope the general sentiment among the public keeps it in the forefront of agendas, and the sociocultural political landscape makes more strides to eradicate the effects of America's past. None of this could be possible if it wasn’t for the scholars dedicated to African studies. I hope academic institutions realize the level of importance the classes offer and continue to dedicate resources to them as I’d like to take more in the future. 


Works Cited

Nolen-Hoeksema, Susan (2020). Abnormal Psychology. McGraw-Hill Education.

 

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