Tackling Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

In their 2008 review the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Report revealed “Factors such as discrimination, racism, stress, low self-esteem, socioeconomic disadvantage and the experience of seeking refuge or asylum may all exacerbate mental health problems” in ethnic minorities. In addition, it is well known slavery has had an immense effect on black people. This effect is thoroughly explored in Dr Joy DeGruy Leary’s ground-breaking book Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome. PTSS helps to explain the etiologic of the maladaptive behaviours in black people “that exist as a consequence of multigenerational oppression to Africans and their descendants” (Leary, 2013). Both Leary and Black society continually provide evidentiary support for this theory, however its reaffirmation that problems within the black community are vestiges of slavery has received polarised opinions. For some it provides hope and positivity within the grassroots (Talvi, 2006), yet for others it “lifts away moral responsibility from those engaged in self-destructive, anti-social, and criminal behaviour,” (Wood, 2014). Which argument is more valid?

In this debate we’ll be examining validity to the theories in Dr Leary’s book, and what we can do about it. Has Dr Leary outlined a new, genuine psychological disorder, or is this merely a clever application of the “race card?” Furthermore, we’ve all seen the growing debates for reparations, and the general acceptance that black people deserve some restitution. But where are the calls for therapy and psychological healing? If money can’t buy happiness why do we fight for monetary reparations and not treatment? Given UK Parliament’s rejection of the petition to debate reparations we conceive it’s highly unlikely that this type of mass treatment would be funded, and yes it would seem nonsensical to demand treatment by a system known to be endemic with institutionalised racism (Tucker, 2005). However as tax paying citizens of this country should we be more demanding of Government to facilitate our emancipation in more pragmatic ways?

Speakers to be announced