Focusing on Racial, Historical and Intergenerational Trauma, and Resilience

The Impact of Medical Injustice: Restoring Trust in Clinical Practice

“…Besides affecting a child's psychological well-being, intergenerational and historical trauma can negatively impact physical health by passing down biological memory [1,5,6]. Cumulatively and epigenetically, these stressors can affect the development of offspring independently of and in interaction with direct exposures to stress during perinatal and early childhood [7].…”

“…In the face of such barriers, African Americans are susceptible to physiological decline, illness, and early mortality as a result of continuing stigmatization and disadvantages [5,12]. Historical trauma is multigenerational trauma experienced by a specific cultural, racial, or ethnic group, such as slavery and forced migrations [1,3]. It is even more important to recognize that post-slavery, discrimination preserved the subordinate relationship of African Americans through subjugation by Black Codes, Sundown Laws, and later segregation through Jim Crow [13,14].…”

“…Intergenerational trauma, defined as the impact of trauma on not only one generation but also the next generation, can adversely affect the integrity of patient-physician relationships [1,2]. Racism and the structural inequity it perpetuates are one of many driving forces behind intergenerational trauma [3].…”

“…Racism and the structural inequity it perpetuates are one of many driving forces behind intergenerational trauma [3]. In children, families, and communities, its effects can be felt biologically, socially, and psychologically [1]. Such an effect extends itself into the cardiac health of African Americans and minority groups, resulting in disparities in most cardiac procedures and treatments, such as CABG and hypertension regulation [4].…”

Trauma‐Informed Pedagogy: Instructional Strategies to Support Student Success

“…There is a significant amount of literature that reports the impact of systemic racism and racial discrimination on the stress levels of its targets and growing evidence that supports the relationship between racism and negative physical and mental health consequences 31 . Prolonged or frequent exposure to racism and racial stress increases the chance of trauma responses by students 32 . It is proposed that in addition to racial inequities, systemic racism may also impact future generations of affected people via epigenetics.…”