By Janice Hayes Kyser
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — Black people must maintain a positive sense of self, seek and nurture strong support systems and advance social, mental and physical wellness to help overcome the negative psychological impact of racial hate in America, health experts say.
ANALYSIS
While prejudice, discrimination and racial hatred can fuel anxiety, depression and other mental trauma, the cure is for Black people to define their own reality, control their own narrative and promote strong family and community ties, these experts say.
“We have to be careful not to let others define us,” said Stacie Turks, 66, a licensed psychologist who practiced in the LA area for 17 years. “We have to maintain control of our identities, who we are and where we fit in. It’s important to have a strong sense of self that we
can honor and care for.”
Camille Grundy, a second-year student pursuing a master’s degree in social work at UCLA puts it this way.
“We can’t rely on the haters to give us a sense of self and well-being. We have to do it for ourselves,” said the South L.A. native.
“We must know our history and have pride in our Blackness and the amazing accomplishments of those who came before us and who are among us now,” added Grundy, 25, who is an active member of the Association of Black Social Workers Greater Los Angeles.
The nonprofit organization, which has served the community since 1968, provides a forum for Black social workers to exchange ideas, offer services and develop programs to uplift the Black community.
In addition to creating a positive and powerful self-narrative, Grundy and Dr. Turks believe Black people must guard their health by building and maintaining positive support systems and finding activities and outlets that allow them to relax and rejuvenate such as walking, spending time with family and friends, reading, practicing deep breathing and more.
“We are innately loving, creative and powerful people and we have to find ways to continue to tap into that to stay centered in a world that is constantly trying to throw us off balance,” Grundy said.
James O. Maddox, 76, a social worker in Los Angeles who consults with various agencies on policy matters that impact veterans, seniors, the unhoused and other marginalized groups, says in order to fight bias, Blacks must be the standard bearers.
“We have to fight not to absorb the hate for ourselves and to not put it back out there for others,”
said Maddox, who is also active in the Association of Black Social Workers Great Los Angeles. “I try to keep in mind something my father used to say to me and my siblings as children — he would say: ‘it’s not what someone calls you, but what you answer to that determines who you are.”
“It takes very little energy for us to think of people we are fond of,” Maddox added. “However, when we think about people who have mistreated us and who do not like us, it is angst producing and creates negative energy and electrical stimulus in our brains that negatively impacts our health.”
Finding and keeping a strong identity, Turks said, isn’t easy in a society in which Black people often have to pretend to be something they are not to fit into environments at work, school and elsewhere.
“After a while, having to conform to fit into the expectations of society takes a toll,” said Turks, who speaks from experience, having had to “shift” to fit into various leadership roles she’s held throughout her career. “The pressure to downplay who you are makes it more difficult to be yourself. It can also lead to internalized racism and self-hatred which is a very slippery slope.”
Although they represent different generations, Turks, Maddox and Grundy agree that building bridges of understanding among all groups of people is key to combatting hate.
“Hate is the manifestation of fear,” Maddox said. “That’s why it’s so important to stay open and let people get to know who you are. You won’t convert everyone, but it is important to give people an opportunity to get to know us and see us for who we really are.”
Grundy agrees, but acknowledges staying open to people who are often not open to you, isn’t easy.
“It seems simple, but in this society, it’s not,” Grundy said. “But it really is about people getting to know more about people who are different … who have different experiences, zip codes, sexual preference and skin colors and finding out what we have in common as human beings. When we can stop assuming ownership over people and resources and realize we are here for each other, not to possess, not to dominate or discriminate, but to be our brothers and sisters’ keepers, the world will be a better, healthier place for everyone.”
This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
Janice Hayes Kyser is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspaper.
