Black Trauma

 

Nevaeh Craig

Ms. Harris

Blog Post

12/3/2021

Black Trauma in the Black Gothic

Over the course of the semester, we have read many narratives and have explored the trauma of African American individuals during the times of slavery and even after. The trauma our ancestors endured is similar, if not, the exact same today. Racial trauma is the mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias and discrimination (mhanational.org). Today, we can view this trauma in movies, books, music, etc. It is inevitable to escape. We are surrounded by reminders of the past and triggered by the actions of people around us.

Historical trauma is caused by events that target a group of people. The effects of slavery and the events after have caused deep rooted problems in the lives of African Americans. The trauma is passed down generationally, which is why it is impossible to escape. Trauma effects how we communicate with others, how we hear others, and how we deal with arising problems in our everyday lives. (https://www.health.state.mn.us/) From parenting to relationships, trauma is the one factor that is sensitive in the black community.

For example, the murder of George Floyd in March of 2020 brought the trauma back to the surface. People began to see how black people felt in the 1950s and 1960s fighting for equality, the same battle we have today. The injustice has always been there, yet many chose to ignore it, until now. This murder was a trigger for many. “What if that was my son?”, “What if I am next?”. Those questions stem from fear. They stem from the trauma of the past. Fearing for your life or the lives of those around you is tiring and very traumatic.

Racial trauma effects the way people deal with their children. Black parents have valid fears about the safety of their children. Many believe that physical punishment and discipline is needed in order to keep their child safe. “African-Americans adopted the practice of beating children from white slave masters (Patton, 2017)” (apa.org). Although many believe that whipping their children will make them listen, it is only driving a wedge between the parent and child’s relationship. Many psychologists believe that these actions are caused by the treatment slaves endured. Many black parents do not believe in therapy or counseling to help with this trauma, which is why it is passed down generationally.

Some symptoms of racial trauma are chronic stress, negative emotion, like anxiety and depression, hypervigilance, and avoidance. It can also cause physical symptoms like physical pain, hypertension, and digestive issues. Going back to slavery and Jim Crow and knowing how our ancestors and those before us were treated, help us to better understand where this post-traumatic stress comes from. Coping with racial trauma takes a lot and it is a long process but being seen and heard is a good step towards healing. Learning to be aware and recognizing the symptoms of the trauma is also a way to be able to cope (psychology.uga.edu).

 

 

 

Works Cited

https://www.mhanational.org/racial-trauma

https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/equity/projects/infantmortality/session2.2.pdf

https://www.today.com/health/what-racial-trauma-how-black-therapists-are-helping-patients-cope-t184880

https://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/newsletter/2017/04/racial-trauma

https://psychology.uga.edu/coping-racial-trauma

 

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