6 ways white supremacy takes its toll on Black people’s mental health

[Blue_Tires]

Officially, Kalief Browder died as a result of suicide at his family’s home in the Bronx this weekend. Yet it’s not a stretch to say the racist criminal justice system that locked him up for more than three years without a trial was likely the main culprit for the young man’s death. In 2010, the cops arrested 16-year-old Browder after another teen accused the boy of robbing him of his backpack. Browder has always denied the accusations. His family couldn’t afford the $10,000 bail, so Browder was forced to stay in Rikers for three years. While there, he was held in solitary confinement for 400 days, beaten by jail guards, abused by other inmates and attempted suicide several times.

Black people make up just 14 percent of the U.S. population, yet 38 percent of those locked up, according to a recent report; 60 percent of those in solitary confinement are black. A fact sheet from Solitary Watch reports that solitary confinement can create or exacerbate mental health issues. Browder never had a chance.

This is what white supremacy does. It disproportionately targets black people and uses its system (jails, police, unsupportive work environments, white privilege at universities and other institutions) to break them. But it is not just about jails. Even young black kids who attend pool parties are at risk. As AlterNet previously reported, Officer Eric Casebolt from the McKinney Police Department was captured on video violently putting 15-year-old Dajerria Becton on the ground and pulling his gun on other teens who came to her aid. The psychological trauma from that experience will surely follow her for some time. That is part of the quintessential state violence that black people endure on a daily basis.

Racism, in all of its forms, takes a heavy toll on black people’s mental health, according to practicing therapists and psychologists who spoke with AlterNet. “Research has shown that racism has negative psychological consequences for African Americans such as increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress,” says Erlanger Turner, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Houston-Downtown. He was one of three mental health professionals, along with Kira Banks, assistant professor of psychology at Saint Louis University, and Lisa Jones, a licensed clinical social worker based in New York City, who spoke to AlterNet about the ways in which racism can literally make black people ill.

http://www.salon.com/2015/06/11/6_ways_white_supremacy_takes_its_toll_on_black_peoples_mental_health_partner/

[AuntPatsy]

1. Do we get sad or angry......which will help alter the realty of so many ....

[lovemydog]

3. Both, and we get involved.

[heaven05]

2. how sad, how true

There's been no real change for centuries in this 'land of the privileged free and home of the Casebolt brave. I am saddened by this young man's death at the heads of the state.

[freshwest]

4. I see these stories, over and over. I feel like taking all of these people home and hiding them...

Until it's all over. Until the war is over, like Anne Frank's family being hidden in an attic.

Hiding them from white supremacy, but it shouldn't have to be this way.

When the hell will it be over?

[Number23]

5. One of the reasons that black people suffer from so many stress related illnesses

Stroke, heart attack etc.

I am really glad to see racism getting so much attention but that the discussion is not just stopping at talking about the short term impact but the long term as well. That 14-year old girl will never feel safe around a cop again.

Re: Point number 3 - Consistently not being valued or being abused at work. - we've all shared experiences about that here, especially in the old AA forum on DU2. Noire wrote an excellent OP about being asked to "fetch" something at her job. Can you believe that shit?

[Flatulo]

6. I worked with a lovely black woman at Maxtor -

Karen was her name - who died of a sudden, massive heart attack at age 50. She was very good at her job, which was commodities procurement. She was routinely asked to work from 7 to 5, and then again from 8 PM until midnight or 1:00AM (to be on Asian time).

Her reward for being an effective worker was to be worked to death.

She was a sweet lady and a world-class chef. We often spoke of food and we shared quite a few recipes. I still think of her quite often.

I had another great relationship with a black engineer who was my manager for about 5 years. Cliff was an incredibly decent human being who got zero recognition for his talents. He quietly died of cancer, also at 50, that started in his stomach and spread everywhere. He worked right up until the week he died, that's how dedicated he was. He came to visit me in the hospital when he could barely move.

Did workplace stress kill these two fine people at such an early age? I'd bet anything. They both were extremely dedicated to their jobs and the company, even though they got zilch in return. Young, flashy, smoother talking white yuppies got the promotions and the huge stock options. These people were quiet and reserved and didn't go door to door touting their achievements.

It was an honor to know these people. I don't know many other black folks, just one guy I went to high school with who I see regularly, but they were just two of the nicest people I've ever met.

[JI7]

7. that experiment with the dolls on young kids shows how early it can start also

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

8. Kenneth Clark's "Doll Test". That's why Rachel Dolezar is so offensive!