By Christina Velez, The Relationship Foundation July 15, 2021
Have you ever questioned the ways that racism and trauma intersect? As a person of color, I know I have. Racism is a core determinant of health which often leads to social inequities. From watching PBS’s video on “Mental Fitness for Resilience-The Trauma of Racism” it was interesting to learn how racism and trauma, often converge in inseparable ways. Dr. Terri D. McFadden, a general pediatrician, and professor at Emory University School of Medicine explains how racism can be considered an ACE which falls under Adverse Community Experiences. The effects of this sort of trauma could be detrimental to one’s health. (McFadden, 2020). As the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences is linked to toxic stress, which causes a chemical imbalance in your brain. Research shows how someone with any number of ACEs, may communicate, react, and respond to situations differently than someone who has not experienced trauma. McFadden’s work in childhood trauma reflects on how ACEs often take a toll on brain development, the immune system, and one’s “life-long trajectory of health” (McFadden, 2020)
Dr. Gene Brody, a regents professor, and director at The Center of Family Research at UGA, conducted a study of black high school students who were victims of racism. He examined how the students’ racist experiences would correspond to the health markers associated with mental illness. The results of Brody’s study were alarming. He discovered that a sizable amount of the students in the study had an elevation in the ascribed health markers (Brody, 2020). Brody acknowledges how there was a small percentage of students who did not have an increase in the health categories that correlated with chronic mental illness, in part to the resiliency which their parents instilled in them (Brody, 2020).
As a child, I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood with my parents. A couple who lived across the street from us had falsely accused me of trespassing onto their property at night. They called the police on me. I remember how the lady told the officer something to the extent of "My eyesight isn't good, but I'm pretty sure I saw a black figure in the window". One thought kept ruminating in my mind and it was "Why were the other kids who lived on the street, never called into question?"
Dr. Stan Sonu, assistant professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at The Emory School of Medicine, puts this into context by explaining how racial biases can be either apparent or implicit (Sonu, 2020). Either type of racial bias can be just as hurtful. Even microaggressions as Sonu mentions can be hurtful, even if it is not intended to cause discomfort. Some examples from my personal experience, include statements such as: “What part of town are you from?” Also, “How can your parents afford that house?” Over time statements with overarching undertones such as these, can have a negative impact on how one perceives themself.
Resiliency is undoubtedly fundamental to alleviating hardships one might face as a result of racism. I can affirm that having a parent who believed in my capacities when other people doubted them, was what made me resilient in coping with traumatic instances of racial discrimination/biases.
Furthermore, Sonu (2020) speaks to the profound importance of trauma-informed care in the context of health care settings. Sonu asserts how the underlying question should be “What has happened to them?” Instead of the common question “What is wrong with them?” I regard Sonu’s statement as a compassionate approach to healthcare. It creates the space for humanity by dropping the notion that the patient is “just another number” and that the patient matters.
At The Relationship Foundation, we believe that childhood experiences play a huge part in the ultimate well-being of our society. We provide foundational tools to help parents and teachers communicate effectively with children experiencing ACEs. This in turn builds stronger relationships, which provide children with an extensive vocabulary to describe their wants, needs, and desires.
When considering the effects of racism, nothing is certain, regarding the duration of one's trauma. Each person who has experienced racism, responds to discrimination in distinct and different ways, but in the end, it’s still traumatizing!
See all of our free resources at www.therelationshipfoundation.org
Comments (0)