On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas – two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln, which freed enslaved people in the Confederacy. Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) is traditionally celebrated with food, prayer, activities and time with friends and family. It is also a time of empowerment, a time to celebrate racial pride, Black resilience, and a time to deepen our understanding of how America’s history of slavery–and the persistence of systemic racism–impacts the mental health and well-being of Black Americans.
Exposure to stressful and adverse experiences over a long period can become toxic. Toxic stress experienced by individuals and communities can also lead to the intergenerational transition of trauma from survivors to their descendants. Discrimination and racism fuel intergenerational trauma and toxic stress, which is the body’s response to prolonged stress without enough support and causes the body and mind to not be able to fully recover.
According to the American Behavioral Scientist, “Experiences of racial discrimination are an important type of psychosocial stressor that can lead to adverse changes in health status and altered behavioral patterns that increase health risks.” For Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC), experiencing racial discrimination is a day-to-day norm and is deeply entrenched in our society, policies and laws. Experiences like going to a doctor or health clinic, interacting with law enforcement, applying for jobs, etc. are often paired with assumptions or offensive comments, microaggressions and more – both intended and unintended. While stress is a normal part of life, when it is persistent and exceeds our ability to cope, it can lead to significant mental and physical health outcomes ranging from hypertension, depression/anxiety, race-based traumatic stress (RBTS), fear and increased sensitivity to threat.
The bottom line is that racial discrimination has a significant impact on mental and physical health. These experiences reflect a larger pattern of systemic discrimination with health implications for the nation as a whole. Racial discrimination and toxic stress take a heavy toll on individuals, marginalized communities and our entire society. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution for discrimination and dealing with toxic stress.
Coping can look different for BIPOC and from one situation to the next. Some ways to cope could look like connecting with friends who can engage in racially conscious conversations or finding a BIPOC therapist. InnoPysch can help you quickly find a therapist of color in their directory. Also, make a list of situations, people or places that trigger your symptoms of trauma and make a list of ways to cope with each of these instances.
In 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday in the United States and Johnson County Government designated Juneteenth as a standard, fixed county holiday. Juneteenth celebrates one of the most significant milestones in American history, but it also reminds us of one of the darkest aspects of our nation’s history. It gives us reason to pause and educate ourselves about the injustice that has occurred throughout our history and how it continues today. Juneteenth is also important in the world of mental health. It brings attention to the ways that personal and systemic racism can negatively impact mental health and well-being and is a part of Black identity formation.
We must continue to insist on digging deeper than performative appearances of progress and surface-level solutions if we want to create actual change. To stand together, we must continue to do our part by educating ourselves about racial inequity, acknowledging everyday racism that is embedded in our culture, standing up for one another, connecting with support and participating in the democratic process.
