“If you don’t heal you’ll pass on the injuries to the next generation”
-Dr.Joy DeGruy
Black people from all walks of life have endured and continue to endure racism stemming from colonization and slavery.
As a result of living in hostile environments, we have developed a number of “maladaptive” behaviours. These behaviours were necessary for our survival at a given time. However, they no longer serve us from one generation to the next. On the contrary, they stifle our growth.
This pattern is the result of race-based trauma. You may think that you don’t have race-based trauma but unfortunately if you’re black, you most likely do. It may be that feeling you get when you see a cop car in your review mirror. When you look at yourself and wish your features were finer. Or when you secretly wish that the interviewer is not racist because you really need that job.
Historically, our responses to these feelings have been maladaptive. For instance: changing our appearance to look the part. Engaging in violant acts to fit the part. Assimilating to the dominant culture to be accepted.
This is what Dr. Joy DeGruy calls post traumatic slave syndrome (P.T.S.S).
Take a listen as we discuss the relevance of black healing and how we can all embark on our own individual healing journey.
