WHAT IS RACIAL TRAUMA?
HOW IT IMPACTS OUR MENTAL HEALTH
To justify enslaving Black people, we had to be demonised. This was done by portraying us as savages, without culture or religion, violent and hyper-sexual. In one major case, we were depicted as not fully human. As in the USA Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, the enslave was 3/5th of a human!
One consequence of this negative portrayal has been the psychological impact on Black people themselves. It includes self-hatred, internalised racism and an erosion of Black consciousness within the Black community.
INTERNALISED RACISM
When racism is internalised, the person accepts the negative attitudes, beliefs, stereotypes and ideologies that the dominant society perpetuates about the marginalised racial group. The power that the dominant group holds in society enables them to determine what is correct, acceptable or normal. Any deviation from this standard is therefore labelled as incorrect, unacceptable and/or abnormal.
In addition, internalised racist beliefs can become psychologically toxic and may evoke negative emotions which can lead to the onset of mental health conditions, such as depression. Internalised oppression is linked to feelings of inferiority, low self-esteem, self-doubt, helplessness and hopelessness. It is also implicated in the self-perpetuation of oppression and an anti-black bias.
SLAVERY WAS GENOCIDE/RACIAL TRAUMA
Internalised oppression can emerge over time and may elicit denial and a sense of powerlessness. Some research suggests that internalised racism occurs through the shame and the humiliation that occurs when the self is repeatedly devalued. It should be noted that depression linked to racism could be suppressed rage. It might also be expressed through obesity, addictions, high blood pressure, stress or domestic violence.
RACIAL TRAUMA LINKED TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
The British Psychological Society defines “Trauma is when an event or a series of events overwhelms our abilities to cope, which has lasting effects on our nervous system, brain and body,”
THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY IS STILL WITH US
Common ways people are exposed to racial trauma include everyday slights such as being followed in a shop, racial slurs, denied opportunities, racial profiling and hate crimes. These are race-based events, which can also happen indirectly, like when we watch a video of police brutality.
HOW CAN WE HEAL?
1.Explore your ethnic/racial history.
2.Identify and understand the psychological impacts of racial trauma and begin to process those experiences in light of the new insights you have gained.
3.Access culturally appropriate counselling or an emancipation circle group to help you to process your experiences.
4.Affirm one’s personal strengths and replacing negative beliefs with self- affirmations to promote higher self-esteem.
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GUARD YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WITH LOVE
Take care of yourself and thank you for reading my Blog,
Akilah