How Slavery’s Curse Still Haunts Black Mental Health
Studies show that black women age more because of race-related stress.
In 2020, California created a reparations task force to research and propose compensation measures for African Americans affected by the legacy of slavery. But in September 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed some of the major proposals, stating that financially compensating the victims of slavery was not a feasible option. As a result, the black community was highly disappointed because they see the reparations as a meaningful acknowledgement of the generational harm caused by slavery. However, some people dismiss these feelings because slavery occurred centuries ago and believe that African Americans today should just “get over it.”
Although slavery ended five to six generations ago, the trauma of enslavement has lingered in the lives of African Americans, passed down through generations. It’s understandable because after centuries of forced labor, systemic oppression and dehumanization, the inhumane treatment has been entrenched in the minds of Black people. These feelings are passed down from generation to generation. And when these young kids see and witness systemic and hidden racism their mental health is affected.
