Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing by Joy Degruy was first published in 2005 (an updated edition was released in 2017). The book examines historical trauma among descendants of African Americans and the way it manifests today. Some topics she discusses are the collective trauma of Black people, self-loathing, and systems. Degruy provides a glimpse into the evolution of society’s beliefs, feelings, attitudes and behavior concerning race in America, and lays out the foundation for ensuring the sustained well-being of future generations.
The term “post traumatic slave syndrome” was coined by Joy Degruy after many years of conducting quantitative and qualitative research on the residual effects of slavery. Joy Degruy explains the term much better than I could ever soooo check out her explanation!
Dr. Joy Degruy has over thirty years of experience as a mental health proffesional and encourages African Americans to view their attitudes, assumptions, and behaviors through the lens of history in order to understand of how centuries of slavery and oppression have impacted Black people in America. Earlier this year, Dr. Degruy discussed her book with Manicka Thomas on the Afrocentric Social Worker Podcast.
Check it out when you get a chance and let me know what you think!
Discussion Worthy 