_______________________________________________ Racial Trauma: The African American Experience
ADVOCACY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE Racism occurs at interpersonal, environmental, institutional, and cultural levels, and eradicating racism and racial trauma necessitates interventions on every level (e.g., individuals, families, communities, and the entire nation). This should include advocacy and implementation of policy changes that eradicate structural racism in communities. As Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm said, “Racism is so universal in this country, so widespread and deep-seated, that it is invisible because it is so normal” [50]. National issues such as mass incarceration, employment disparities, and the achievement gap should be addressed in order to reduce structural racism, alleviate some racial trauma experienced by African Americans, and improve socioeconomic position and related helplessness. One example of a macro-level intervention to address systemic racism is taking steps to improve the education system to better reflect African Americans’ lives, culture, history, and experiences, with particular attention to the punitive approach to educating African American boys. CONCLUSION Acknowledgment of the historical context of racism and its current implications is a vital aspect of providing care to a diverse population. Mental health practitioners, medical pro- viders, researchers, community leaders, advocates, activists, and laypersons should work to prevent and effectively treat the psychological and physical distress experienced as a result of the racism faced by African American clients. Although continuously encountering racism and intersectional trauma, African Americans have often adopted positive adaptations, and it is important to recognize the inherent empowerment that can result with survival of chronic race- related trauma. Cultural awareness, responsiveness, and sensitivity improve relationships with clients and allow for provision of the best quality care. This includes the implementation of race-informed therapeutic practices and techniques that promote resilience and intraindividual and interpersonal healing and wholeness of minorities. A trauma-
informed approach to treatment recognizes that healthcare systems and providers should have a comprehensive picture of a patient’s previous and current life situation in order to offer successful and healing treatment. Implementing trauma- informed practices may increase patient commitment and treatment compliance, improve health outcomes, and enhance provider and staff well-being.
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/racial-trauma
Implicit Bias in Health Care The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, profes- sionals’ attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients’ trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termina- tion of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health profes- sionals’ implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages. Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control- based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual’s behaviors. These strategies include increas- ing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.
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