Introduction

One of the central themes for my background research is to provide current research on

the impact and remedies different people of color can utilize to begin to heal from the acute

effects and symptoms of racism. The primary people group addressed in this research is

the African American community, and secondarily, the racism and mental health

recommendations for Native Americans, Latinx, and Asian communities. Also included in this

essay are findings on how to begin racial healing between the dominant and non-dominant
groups.

Commonality of Racism and Mental Health

Findings for People of Color in the United States

The length of time that racism has been allowed to exist has caused most ethnic people

groups to be in crises - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.[1] According to Black Fatigue

author Mary-Francis Winters, racism has several levels: interpersonal, internalized,

institutional, and structural.[2] How to address these different levels of racism will be

discussed in the section focused on recommended solutions. The significance of the different

levels of racism undergirds the reality that it is ingrained in every facet of our lives.

Understanding the effects and developing possible solutions to rectify them can be

overwhelming but nonetheless necessary.  In her book, Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental

Health, Dr. Rheeda Walker, reviewed several studies. One study completed a decade ago by

Dr. Phillip Goff determined that whites do not see Black people as human, and whites

inherently believe they have a right to dominate others. According to Walker, Dr. Asa Hillard

utilized Goff's work to postulate that racism would qualify as a mental health disorder in part

because a person would have to be disconnected from reality to think that they are superior
to another person simply based on the color of their skin.[3] Because racism is systemic and

structural, dismantling requires systemic and structural efforts. Author, Alisha Moreland-

Capuia, asserts in her book, The Trauma of Racism Exploring the Systems and People Fear

Built, that racism is a form of trauma perpetuated systemically and structurally.[4]  "Trauma

(fear unchecked or that doesn't turn off) is related to toxic stress." Toxic stress has been

known to distort the normal hormonal functions of the body - which can then lead to

inflammation and other chronic health-related issues - including mental health or behavioral

problems such as a compromise in judgment and rational thinking.[5] Moreland-Capuia

continues to explore race-based fear by comparing and contrasting the relationship between

ecosystems of fear and its power within nature and how nature provides keen insights into

what happens in the psychological and physical realm of people of color as a result of living

with fear every day. As in nature, when a predator is no longer in the vicinity (wholly

removed) of its prey, the intended target will change its habits and move freely around,

uninhibited by the fear of being hunted. However, if the predator is in the general vicinity -

the intended prey can still smell, see the tracks and hear the predator's sound, and it can

instill fear and creates a "landscape" of fear.[6] Similarly, Moreland-Capuia writes, "If we can

appreciate the fear in ecosystems of nature, we should be able to make the correlations to

human to human interactions'' and its adverse effects on the human psyche.[7] Lastly, she

writes that fear is meant to be a time-limited response.[8] However, as we shall see in the

remaining sections, research demonstrates that people of color in the United States are

crushed with obscene amounts of fear-based trauma.

 Critical
 Markers of Racial Trauma and Effects on Black People in America

This section will introduce the current research on racism as it affects Black

people.

Critical Markers of Racial Trauma and

Effects on Native Indigenous People in America

The major source of information is from an American Psychological Association

Journal article that consolidated findings and conclusions from various Native

American Practitioners published in 2006. According to the report, there are

several considerations germane to Native Americans.

 Critical Markers of Racial Trauma and Effects

on Latinix People in America

An APA journal article written by several Latinx mental health professionals

describes the trauma in the Latinx community that stems from systemic

oppression.  

Critical Markers of
 Racial Trauma and Effects on Asian People in America

            For this paper, I am utilizing mental health information on Asian Americans from

Ethnicity & Family Therapy 3rd ed. Textbook by McGoldrick, Giordana, and Garcia-Preto.

Commonality of Mental Health Findings for

Treating People of Color for Exposure to Systemic Racism in the United

States

           

        Summary of Mental Health Findings for

Racial Healing Between Dominant and Non-Dominant People Groups and,

Insights

for Becoming Anti-Racist 

            The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege,

Confront Systemic Racism & Engage in Collective Healing by Anneliese A. Singh, Ph.D. LPC is

an excellent resource for people ready and willing to have difficult conversations centered

on racial healing. It offers evidence-based strategies for coping with a broad range of social

inequities that impact the quality of life. It is a workbook with ten chapters filled with
information to start your journey and engage with others. At the end of each chapter are

questions to reflect upon and discuss (if in a small group), and Dr. Singh calls the exercises

"Racial Healing Practices." Each practice builds your strength and prepares you to loosen

racism's grip on you and ultimately challenge racist systems more effectively.[9]

           

Conclusion

            The good news is that mental health professionals are starting to realize that more work

is necessary to understand the race related traumas that impact the different ethnic groups –

American citizens – in this country. And, there is evidence based information with

culturally specific recommendations coming to the forefront of mental health Practitioners,

social justice activist, and others, in helping professions. However, there is still much to do to

awaken the Church at large to recognize our role in bringing these different ethnic groups

together to heal and reconcile.  The tentacles of racism stretch far and wide and deep, until it

is dealt with at the root, which is fear, we are all its prey.

  [1] American Psychological Association, “Apology to People of Color for APA’s Role in
Promoting, Perpetuating, and Failing to Challenge Racism, Racial Discrimination,” and Human
Hierarchy in U.S., (October 2021): 3, https://www.apa.org/about/policy/racism-apology

[2] Mary-Frances Winters, Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit
(Oakland: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2020), 6.
[3] Rheeda Walker, PhD., The Unapologetic Guide To Black Mental Health: Navigate an
Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help You Deserve
(Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, 2020), 80-81.

[4] Alisha Moreland-Capuia, The Trauma of Racism: Exploring the Systems and People Fear
Built (Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2021), ix.

[5] Ibid., 15.

[6] Ibid., 2.

[7] Ibid., 3.

[8] Ibid., 7.

[9] Anneliese A. Singh, PhD., LPC, The Racial Healing Handbook Practical Activities to Help
Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism & Engage in Collective Healing (Oakland: New
Harbinger Publications, 2019), 8.