POST TRAUMATIC SLAVE SYNDROME

JOY DEGRUY
Introduction
This book focuses on the impact American chattel slavery has had on the
mindset of African Americans many generations after their emancipation. Dr.
DeGruy makes us familiar of her experiences in South Africa and how
comparable the attitudes of the people are to those in America. By explaining
this she emphasises the deepness of the wounds of slavery within the African
American community and how the survival mechanisms of the African people
who were forced to be slaves have been passed down the generations.
!onse"uently to this very day many of these mechanisms which included
lowering the value of the black child to protect them from white oppressors have
become the root of self hatred fear and low self esteem within the black
community. #e are also introduced to the term $ost Traumatic Slave Syndrome%
&rstly the word trauma is de&ned as an 'in(ury) which may have been in*icted by
an 'outside usually violent force event or experience). This in(ury may be
experienced in various ways which impacts the individuals overall outlook on life.
+inally the author emphasises the need for us to not only understand the causes
of the mental enslavement and trauma but the need to also embrace the
courage and strength of our ancestors and focus on how we can harness that
strength in order to advance as a people.
Chapter ! I Don"t E#en Notice Race
The author continues to dwell on her South African experience. This time she
focuses on the di,erence in the attitudes of people after the Apartheid which
ended only a short time before she visited to the attitudes of Americans whose
similar situation had theoretically 'ended) over -. years before. She saw that to
many of the South Africans the ending of the Apartheid was enough reason to
move foreword and create a more e"ual South Africa. /owever she accredits the
continuous racial hostility in America to the constant denial of Americans
particularly white Americans that racial in(ustice still exists. This denial prevents
Americans from moving foreword as South Africans did. The author also nulli&es
the myth of race stating that its meaning is not related to the biology of an
individual because all humans are practically the same in this sense. The
division of racial categorisation can contribute to people)s belief that a particular
racial group is superior and that all others outside this group are inferior. This
has existed and still exists in America today. This is racism. +inally the author
mentions the importance of relationships within the African American community.
0ur progress may be a,ected or encouraged when there is a sense of connection
with what we are learning or experiencing. +ocusing this idea into the lives of
African American children may be a very positive thing as she expresses that the
'most e,ective motivator for black children is love). She begins to touch upon the
e,ect of a lack of relationship in the society as a whole which is dehumanisation.
Chapter $! %ho&e to Three 'i(th)
This chapter evaluated the racial divide scienti&cally. 1t took us through the
di,erences between and the meanings of facts 2being something that is proven
and exists3 beliefs 2someone)s own theory3 and truths. These were linked to
various ideas proposed by famous scientists. 4any of their ideas and theories
can be experimented and proven however their studies which tried to prove the
natural existence of racial superiority were simply beliefs and not facts. This is
dangerous as people believed them despite their lack of factual evidence.
$hrenolgical studies tried to prove that black people and in fact people who were
not white were less superior to white people. 0ne reason why people wanted
this to be true was to lower the status of other races to the extent of
dehumani5ing them. This is a psychological coping mechanism known as
cognitive dissonance which eases the conscience by separating the mind from
the idea that you are doing something wrong. This links to the idea that slave
owners and law makers over the last 6 centuries had7 By presenting the African
American individual as -89ths human they are committing a lesser crime or
even no crime at all because an emotional being is not being hurt or a,ected.
Chapter *! Cri+e) a,ain)t -u+anit.
This chapter compiles many of the in(ustices African American people have faced
from the moment they were captured from their homeland in Africa until they
:illusionary freedom;. Discrimination in the workplace and overrepresentation of
African Americans in prisons is also a cause for concern. /alf of prison inmates in
America are African American 2statistics around 6..93 however only <6= of the
population consists of them. 1f this pattern continues it is predicted that for
every black male that attends university <.. will be arrested. 1t is evident to
both those who are black and who are not that :three hundred and eighty &ve
years of physical psychological and spiritual torture have left a mark; on the
black community.
Chapter /! Po)t Trau+atic S&a#e S.ndro+e
This chapter focuses on this idea and helps us to understand that we should
explore how our past in*uences our present. +rom self esteem to devaluing
others this chapter investigated the psychological e,ects slavery has had on the
black community in greater depth. By reiterating what was said in previous
chapters the author links these e,ects to the idea of trauma. #e are asked what
trauma is and how it manifests itself in order to clearly see the link between
slavery and behaviours in and towards the black community today. Trauma
happens as a result of an event and in this case this very long event was
slavery. The syndrome aspect of the abbreviation is de&ned by : a pattern of
behaviours that is brought about by speci&c circumstances;. So in addition to
living with internalised mental trauma one can also exhibit behaviours as a
result of an incident. #e are also told in this chapter that these behaviours and
ideals can be passed on to the next generation of the peoples a,ected. 1n
addition this trauma and its e,ects can be experienced by those who are not
black. This chapter tied in the ideas that have been presented to us throughout
the book and told us why we actually do certain things even though we are
unconscious of our action sand unaware of their origins.
Chapter 0! S&a#er.") Chi&dren
This chapter speaks about how the e,ects of Slavery have been passed onto the
descendants of those who fought the original battle. By giving us an anecdote
DeGruy also tells us that not only is their pain still around but their triumphs and
strength in times or hardship have made our society what it is today and we are
en(oying many things our ancestors did not because of their lives. 1t is because
of their lives that we are where we are today or can reach where we want to be.
So inasmuch as we may think about and also be victims of the long lasting e,ect
slavery had on our ancestors we are also reminded that we are products of their
victories. 1n addition The author continues to talk about $TSS and also
introduces us to healing methods for example positive racial socialisation.
>nderstanding $TSS and also ways to heal it are key to the growth of the black
community and help us to deal appropriately with the disrespect we may face
and know when :insult becomes assault; and how to deal with it accordingly.
Chapter 1! -ea&in,
:The task of becoming a better human is never ending?; is one of the most
inspiring lines of the chapter. The healing process is (ust one step to completing
the task. By acknowledging our past we can become stronger as we remember
how brave and resilient our ancestors were. Therefore negative connotations
associated with being black e.g. la5iness can be discarded. 0ur past helps us to
have a brighter future we must ensure that the things which try to hold us back
are unsuccessful. This chapter emphasises that we must go through a healing
process in order to continuously develop ourselves into better beings. #e must
build upon our strengths which are within and remember the strength our
ancestors had. #e must build on our self esteem which comes from answering
the "uestion of whether or not we)re creating or destroying. +inally we as a
community must :increase our capacity to love and to assess whether or not our
people our culture and our environment are made better as a result of our
environment.
Epi&o,ue
The book ends with an extract of a note from Thomas @e,erson one of America)s
founding leaders. /e acknowledges the conse"uences of slavery and legacy it
will leave. 1n years to come the :unremitting despotism; and :degrading
submission; on either the part of the :slave; or :master; would eventually haunt
the nation. But in our community the author admonishes us in the last line to
:Aet the healing begin;.