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Decades after its abolition, the legacy of slavery continues to resonate across generations in the form of systemic inequalities and cultural trauma. In the 21st century, these attempts to transcend inherited trauma are thwarted by new threats. While right-wing politics and racism are making a triumphant( if arguably always there, left and right) comeback at the ballot box in the Western world, contributing to a climate of hostility and polarization; some African countries, for their part, are vigorously asserting their sovereignty by forging strategic partnerships with rising powers such as China and Russia, reflecting a world order in transition. So, in an explosive environment where socio-economic conflicts and wars of transition seem to define relationships between nations and individuals, can healing the trauma caused by slavery in a context of rising reactionary elements in the West and the changing geopolitical landscape of African self-determination be topical? And what therapy would be most appropriate?
Healing the trauma of slavery in the face of persistent racism and the resurgence of the far right
The psychological and intergenerational trauma of slavery has been theorized and well documented, most notably by Dr. Joy DeGruy’ s Slavery Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder( SPTSD) theory, according to which most coping mechanisms for survival in African Americans have been attributed to multigenerational oppression based on centuries of slavery( 2020). These traumas manifest not only as personal psychological pain, but also as systemic disparities in mental health, economic opportunity and social integration that persist to this day( 2020).
Flashmag! Issue 161 June 2025
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