Destructive Behaviors Among Members of the Black Community With a Special Focus on Males: Causes and Methods of Intervention

A multidimensional conceptualization of racism-related stress: Implications for the well-being of people of color.

“…Racism has also been connected to psychological well-being as manifested in trauma-related symptoms (Adams, 1990; Harrell. Merchant, & Young, 1997; Root, 1993), depression (Comas-Diaz & Greene, 1994; Fernando, 1984; Salgado de Snyder, 1987), general psychological distress (Amaro, Russo, & Johnson, 1987; Jackson et al, 1996; Pak et al, 1991), substance abuse (Neuspiel, 1996), eating problems (Thompson, 1992), psychosomatization (Comas-Diaz & Greene, 1994), and violence (Kirk, 1986). The evidence is compelling, and growing, that racism is pathogenic with respect to a variety of physical and mental health outcomes.…”

Psychotherapy With African American Men: What We Know and What We Need to Know

“…Second, the literature recommended that therapists gain an understanding of how the dynamics involved in the social and political systems of the United States affect African American men (Bell, 1996;Franklin, 1992;Hilliard, 1985;Jones & Gray, 1983;Kirk, 1986;Lee, 1990;Thomas, 1985;Warfield & Marion, 1985;Washington, 1987). According to Kirk, if therapists aid their African American male clients in becoming more aware of social and political restraints that impede their progress into mainstream American society, they can develop more realistic expectations regarding their opportunitiesor inability-to assimilate into White American society.…”

Racism and Prejudice as Negative Impacts on African American Clients in Therapy

“…Challenges associated with engaging African American men in therapy have been well-documented (Hobbs, 1985;Kirk, 1986;Warfield & Marion, 1985). African American men have, seemingly, internalized the idea that to be perceived as weak or not having "one's head together" may represent a threat to survival.…”