Abstract
This chapter explores how the history of racism results in trauma for African Americans living in the United States. The chapter helps mental health professionals define and identify race-based trauma when working with African American clients. The chapter provides examples of the physical and psychological effects of race-based trauma and explains the importance of working through a culturally sensitive lens. Finally, the chapter provides a helpful framework for mental health professionals to address race-based trauma.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aymer, R. S. (2016). “I Can’t Breathe”: A case study – Helping Black men cope with race-related trauma stemming from police killing and brutality. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 26, 367–376. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2015.1132828
Bemak, F., & Chung, R., C‐Y. (2017). Refugee Trauma: Culturally Responsive Counseling Interventions. Journal of Counseling and Development, 95(3), 299–308.
Bryant-Davis, T. (2007). Healing requires recognition: The case for race-related traumatic stress. The counseling psychologist, 35(1), 135–143. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000006295152
Carter, R. T. (2007). Racism and psychological and emotional injury: Recognizing and assessing race-based traumatic stress. The Counseling Psychologist, 35, 13–105.
Chaney, C., & Robertson, V. R. (2013). Racism and police brutality in America. Journal of African American Studies, 17, 480–505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-013-9246-5
Dempsey, K., Ching, J., & Page, U. (2016). When color blindness hurts. International of Journal Science, 4(7), 101–108.
Degruy-Leary, J. (2004). Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. Mount Vernon, NY.
Grills, N. C., Aird, G. E., & Rowe, D. (2016). Breather baby breathe: Clearing the way for the emotional emancipation of black people. Cultural Studies, 16(3), 333–343. https://doi.org/10.1177/1532708616634830
Hall, H. G., & Neville, A. H. (2019). Racial trauma: Theory, research, and healing. American Psychological Association, 1, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000442
Hannon, M., & Vereen, L. (2016). Irreducibility of Black male clients: Considerations for culturally competent counseling. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 55(3), 234–245.
Hardy, K. (2013). Healing the hidden wounds of racial trauma. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 22(1), 24–28.
Hook, N. J., Farrell, E. F., Davis, E. D., DeBlaere, C., Van Tongeren, R. D., & Utsey, O. S. (2016). Cultural humility and racial microaggressions in counseling. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(3), 260–277.
Meyer, D (2006). Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business. HarperCollins. Oct. 2006. c.336p. ISBN 0-06-074275-5.
Mosley, V. D. (2020). Critical consciousness of anti-Black racism: A practical model to prevent and resist racial trauma. Journal of Counseling Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000430
Najdowski, C., Bottoms, L. B., & Goff, A. P. (2015). Stereotype threat and racial differences in citizens’ experiences of police encounters. American Psychological Association, 39(5), 463–4773.
Range, B., Gutierrez, D., Gamboni, C., et al. (2018). Mass trauma in the African American community: Using multiculturalism to build resilient systems. Contemporary Family Therapy, 40, 284–298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-017-9449-3
Williams-Washington, N. K. (2017). African American historical trauma: Creating an inclusive measure. Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmcd.12113
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dempsey, K. (2021). The Trauma of Being an African American in the Twenty-First Century. In: Adekson, M.O. (eds) African Americans and Mental Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77131-7_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77131-7_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-77130-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-77131-7
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)