The Trauma of Racism and Other Prejudice

The trauma caused by white supremacy and other forms of systemic domination are central to any modern study of mental health. It is widely documented that the impacts are life-threatening and the emotional toll is immense. Depending on your position of privilege or lack there-of, the experience from one person to the next is radically different. This leads to gaslighting and a feeling of personal failure, instead a recognition that there is a cultural sickness. This is another cause of the pervasive damage.

So how does a white, able-bodied professional work with members of a society curently steeped in centuries-old patterns of abuse? In a word - humbly. Though I have years of study, my first step is to put my own ignorance of another’s experience on our table, and be willing to correct when I get something wrong. Also, I see it as my responsibility to make the space as safe as possible by opening the space for holding conversation. I find these actions to be vitally important. I have been taught that silence results in the status quo continuing to harm, so I imperfectly speak up. I invite you to let me know if/when I miss the mark and you don’t feel heard. I thank you for your engagement in this topic.