Wow, there is a lot going on in our country right now. The corona virus, unemployment, shelter at home, re-opening the economy, wearing masks, the death of unarmed African Americans at the hands of the police, a White woman asserting her White privilege to call the police, protests in major cities across the county, and Presidential tweets. It is a lot. And for many it feels like too much. One stressor after another with no time to recover in between. The pain associated with being victimized directly or indirectly by racism is real. Racism is unpredictable, uncontrollable, cumulative, chronic and exhausting. Racial battle fatigue is the term coined by William A. Smith from the University of Utah to describe the psychological and physical stress responses of African Americans coping with hostile environments. Racial battle fatigue is characterized by physical symptoms such as tension headaches, backaches, elevated heart rate, upset stomach, fatigue, ulcers, loss of appetite, and elevated blood pressure. Psychological symptoms include constant anxiety, worry, irritability, frustration, insomnia, disturbing dreams, intrusive thoughts, loss of self-confidence, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, emotional or social withdrawal, anger, anger suppression, resentment, denial, keeping quiet, or minimizing. You might be experiencing some of these symptoms. It helps to talk about how you are feeling and what you are thinking. It is ok to not be ok with what is going on around us.
As President Obama said in a statement on 5/29/2020 “it can’t be normal” Racism is not normal; although we have lived with it for 400 years. African American people should not be getting killed by the police. Let’s face racism head on, let’s not pretend that it is ok and normal. We have to talk about racism and white supremacy so that we can eradicate them. Silence means that you agree with racism and makes you complicit. Speak up, speak out. We all must do better, must do more if we intend for race relations to improve. What do you have to say? What can you do?
There are several resources for anti-racist action. Here is one:
https://www.whowhatwear.com/how-to-combat-racism
Smith, W. A., Allen, W. r., & Danley, L. L. (2007). “Assume the position …you fit the description”: Psychosocial experiences and Racial Battle Fatigue among African American male college students. American Behavioral Scientist, 51(4), 551-578.