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By Jennifer Bailey, LCSW and RDT
What lessons do we inherit from those who came before us?
We hope to receive wisdom, knowledge and resilience. Yet for many Black Americans, the inheritance includes unspoken pain rooted in centuries of oppression. Generational trauma, passed down through families, shapes how individuals experience the world today and how they will shape it for their children.
Understanding Generational Trauma
Sandstone Care defines generational trauma as “the psychological effects of trauma that are passed down from one generation to the next.”
For Black Americans, this trauma did not end with emancipation. Freed slaves carried the scars of beatings, family separations and dehumanization. Even after freedom, they worked, raised families and built communities while still carrying the weight of that trauma.
The Historical Roots of Black Generational Trauma
According to History.com, the first enslaved Africans arrived in America in August 1619. Families were torn apart and forced on brutal journeys across the Atlantic. Freedom came in 1865, but healing did not follow.
After emancipation, Black Americans faced new systems of oppression. Jim Crow laws, which legalized racial segregation, began in 1877 and lasted until 1964, according to the Jim Crow Museum. Discriminatory practices reached beyond the South. By the 1930s, cities such as Cleveland implemented redlining policies, blocking Black families from homeownership. Today, these areas still experience high poverty levels, according to United Way of Greater Cleveland.
How Generational Trauma Manifests
Survival Behaviors
Dr. Joy DeGruy, who developed the concept of Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, explains how behaviors once necessary for survival persist today. For example, enslaved mothers downplayed their children’s talents to avoid drawing attention from slave owners. This pattern can still appear when Black parents minimize their children’s accomplishments out of habit, even while feeling proud.
The Body
Trauma affects not only emotional well-being but also physical health. The Cleveland Clinic explains how environmental factors, such as stress, impact DNA expression. Prolonged stress triggers cortisol, leading to health problems like high blood sugar, weakened bones and mood swings. The National Library of Medicine links chronic stress to long-term health risks.
Family Dynamics
Strict discipline and emphasis on obedience remain common in Black families. Historically, these practices protected children from dangers during slavery and Jim Crow. While the external threats have changed, some of these parenting patterns persist as protective instincts.
Distrust of Medical and Government Institutions
The Black community’s mistrust of healthcare and government stems from historical abuses, including the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. In this unethical study, Black men were denied treatment so researchers could observe the disease’s progression. Incidents like this contribute to skepticism toward medical care that continues today.
Identity and Code-Switching
Navigating predominantly white spaces has long been a challenge for Black Americans. Historic figures such as Ruby Bridges and Jackie Robinson faced these realities early on. Today, many Black Americans engage in code-switching, adjusting speech, appearance and behavior to fit dominant cultural norms. According to Jessica Guynn, this ongoing need to adapt can lead to identity struggles and emotional fatigue.
Healing Generational Wounds
Healing generational trauma requires both personal and collective efforts:
- Community: Black spaces like churches, barbershops and salons offer affirmation and support.
- Creativity: Art, music and creative expression provide outlets for healing.
- Therapy: Culturally competent therapists help individuals process trauma safely.
- Body-based healing: Practices like mindfulness, dance and yoga release stored trauma.
- Systemic change: Financial literacy and honest education about slavery and systemic racism equip future generations.
- Education: Books, documentaries and podcasts help individuals better understand generational trauma and paths forward.
Key Takeaways
- Generational trauma is real and inherited.
- The legacy of slavery and systemic racism still affects Black communities.
- Trauma shows up in many parts of daily life.
- Healing is possible through awareness, support and action.
- Education plays a critical role in breaking these cycles.
About the Author
Jennifer Bailey is a wife, mother of three and therapist. She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and registered drama therapist (RDT).
