Understanding Racial Trauma

What is Racial Trauma?

Racial trauma, or race-based traumatic stress (RBTS), refers to the mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias, ethnic discrimination, racism, and hate crimes. Any individual who has experienced an emotionally painful, sudden, and uncontrollable racist encounter is at risk of suffering from race-based traumatic stress injury. In the U.S., Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are particularly vulnerable due to living under a system of white supremacy.

Psychological Impact of Racial Discrimination

Experiences of race-based discrimination can have severe psychological impacts on individuals and their wider communities. Prolonged incidents of racism can lead to symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as depression, anger, recurring thoughts of the event, physical reactions (e.g., headaches, chest pains, insomnia), hypervigilance, low self-esteem, and mentally distancing from traumatic events. It's important to note that unlike PTSD, RBTS is not classified as a mental health disorder but a mental injury resulting from living within a racist system or experiencing racist events.

Identifying Racial Trauma

If you identify as a BIPOC and have experienced racism, you may be able to self-assess for symptoms of RBTS. Formal diagnosis requires assessment by a qualified mental health professional. Common symptoms include:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Anger and irritability

  • Hypervigilance

  • Physical symptoms (headaches, chest pains)

  • Recurring thoughts of racist encounters

  • Low self-esteem

Sources of Racial Trauma

  • Examples: Physical and verbal attacks, discriminatory practices in workplaces, and microaggressions.

    Impact: Direct traumatic stressors include all direct traumatic impacts of living within a society of structural racism or being on the receiving end of individual racist attacks. This can lead to severe psychological and emotional distress.

  • Examples: Witnessing racist violence or discrimination through media, hearing about racist incidents affecting others.

    Impact: Vicarious traumatic stressors are the indirect traumatic impacts of living with systemic racism and individual racist actions. These can be as harmful as direct experiences, leading to significant emotional and mental health issues.

  • Examples: Historical trauma from events like slavery, segregation, and forced relocation.

    Impact: Transmitted traumatic stressors are passed down through generations, affecting descendants of those who experienced severe racial trauma. This can result in persistent psychological issues and a heightened vulnerability to mental health disorders.

Seeking Help for Racial Trauma

Why Seek Therapy? Therapy can provide a safe, culturally affirming space to heal from racialized trauma. Therapists specializing in racial trauma can help you:

  • Develop coping strategies

  • Address direct and vicarious traumatic experiences

  • Break unhealthy generational patterns

  • Advocate for yourself and others