Generational Trauma and the Perpetual Victimhood Mindset

It is challenging to discuss the subject of generational trauma experienced by Black people without turning it into a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation since there is so much scholarly information available, including Dr. Joy DeGruy’s seminal book entitled, “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing.” In addition, recent studies discussing a growing consensus that transgenerational health disparities affecting Black people persist due to continued interpersonal and structurally institutional discrimination in the United States,[1] and studies of epigenetics on the effects of Racism on Black people, show how Black people may biologically inherit harmful generational trauma from Racism and white supremacism.

Generational Trauma is described as:

“…the transference of traumatic experiences or stressors from one generation to the next. One of many types of traumas, it can happen through direct experience, witnessing violence, or living in an environment where violence is a constant threat.[2]

Dr. Reshawna Chapple, writing for Talk Space, explained Generational Trauma this way:

“This form of psychological trauma can lead to physical and mental health problems as well as social and emotional difficulties. For example, children who grow…