Post on 15-Dec-2015
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African Americans and Trauma: Lessons Learned from Disasters
Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D.Rutgers UniversityEmail: boydfrank@aol.com
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Focus
African Americans and Trauma Lessons Learned from Natural
Disasters Case Example of Hurricane
Katrina Victimization Experiences
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Overview of the Presentation Racism as Trauma Lessons from Hurricane Katrina about
Race and Class in disaster situations Mental Health Interventions and Disaster
Response with African Americans Cultural Issues in our work with African
Americans in Disaster Situations* The importance of an extended family
centered perspective
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Religion and Spirituality
In the lives of African Americans Extremely important in terms of
spiritual resilience Healing in Times of Trauma WILL BE DISCUSSED IN MY
PRESENTATION THIS AFTERNOON
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Hurricane Katrina: Disproportionate Impact on Poor African Americans Individuals from all racial and
socioeconomic groups impacted by Katrina
67% of New Orleans residents who were African American and poor
Disproportionately impacted by devastation of Katrina
And by post-hurricane traumatic experiences
Dyson, 2006; Troutt, 2006
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Impact of Race and Class on Disaster Response
Poor Black People: the “Invisible” Americans
Double Jeopardy of Race and Poverty
The forgotten Americans Often not considered in disaster
planning No plans made for Black, poor
residents with no transportation Underlying Institutional Racism (Dyson, 2006; Boyd-Franklin, 2009)
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Different Perceptions of Race and Class
CNN poll (Sept. 13, 2005) Katrina highlighted racial divide in
this country 60% of Blacks viewed race as a
factor in slow response to Katrina victims
Only 12% of Whites saw race as a factor
63% of Blacks saw poverty of victims as a factor; 21% of Whites
(Boyd-Franklin, 2008)
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Psychological Trauma of Perceived Racism
Research has documented the psychological trauma of perceived racism
Carter, 2007 Clark et al, 1999 Utsey, Chae, Brown & Kelly, 2002
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Hurricane Katrina: Double Trauma Trauma due to the hurricane
disaster *Death of Loved Ones
*Loss of Extended Family
*Loss of homes
*Loss of Community
* Trauma due to Racism
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The Trauma of Racism
* Racism as trauma Family’s experience of the trauma
of racism Children observing disrespect
toward their parents
Harrell (2000)
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Racism-related Life Events: Hurricane Katrina Extreme poverty of Black people in New
Orleans’ 9th Ward 20,000 people at the Convention Center
and 20,000 at the Superdome left without food and water
Overwhelming number of Black faces at both locations
Many African Americans have lost their homes in New Orleans and cannot afford to rebuild.
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Vicarious Experiences of Racism
Can also involve strangers, who are also African American (Harrell, 2000)
Millions of African Americans watched in horror as “their People” were ignored during the Katrina disaster.
Trauma of Racism Experienced Collectively
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Racism-related Psychological Trauma and PTSD Racism can be a form of
psychological trauma for African Americans
It involves negative, rejecting, and/or demeaning societal messages that undermine self esteem
(Butts, 2002)
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African American Survivors of Katrina PTSD Some had flashbacks Nightmares Recurrent Experiences Not just of the trauma of the hurricane Also of the inhuman conditions and the
racism experienced at the superdome and the convention center
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Mental Health Providers
Must be trained to be culturally sensitive
African American clients may experience psychological trauma due to racism
In disaster situations.
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Challenges for Mental Health Providers Resistance to understanding our clients’
subjective experiences of racism Many African Americans may be hesitant
to address these issues directly in cross-racial treatment
The desire to debate the client’s perception of racism
Allowing African Americans the space to express their anger at racism in our sessions with them
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Challenges During Responses to Disasters
Risk re-traumatizing the client by ignoring or not recognizing their perception of racism
Manifestations of racism are often subtle and can easily be denied
Building Trust in the midst of chaotic crisis interventions
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Any Natural Disaster Can Be Exacerbated by the Trauma of Racism The Example of Katrina Many African Americans have
experienced racism during other disaster responses
The manifestations of racism are often denied by others
The emotional consequences of this denial for African Americans
(Boyd-Franklin, 2009)
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Cultural Insensitivity: Lessons from Katrina Lack of cultural understanding Limited the effectiveness of first
responders Need to connect with African American
Survivors Recruit responders from African
American & other ethnic minority backgrounds
(Dass-Brailsford, 2006; Law, 2006;
Boyd-Franklin, 2008).
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Cultural Issues
The Importance of Family Who is considered “family” The Role of Extended Family Non-Blood “family” The Importance of “Community” Kinship Care
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African American Extended Families African American families Often extended families Strong Kinship Networks Blood and non-blood family
members Church family
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Extended Family Issues in Times of Disaster Multigenerational family structures Elderly family members refused to
leave their homes Trauma related to inability to reach
extended family members during Katrina
Kinship Care by elderly who also faced medical crises
(Boyd-Franklin, 2009)
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Helping to locate extended family members Major Intervention to help African
American families in times of disaster
Establish a reliable information and contact system
Online resources Phone lines for those who are not
computer literate Role of the media
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Many First Responders and Disaster Workers Did Not Understand the Concept of “Home” for Older African Americans
• Implications for Hurricane Katrina evacuation efforts
• Sustaining and supporting those who insist on staying
(Boyd-Franklin, 2008)
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The Concept of Home for Older African Americans
Central to the concept of self The “Family Home” Haven in a Cruel world Neighborhood and Community
Define Their World Value of Home Ownership “This is all I have in the world.” Fear of loss, theft or damage to
their property
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Significance of “Home” for African Americans• “Home” or “homeplace”= refuge in
a harsh world • Multigenerational “safe place”• Heal from the ravages of racism,
poverty, deprivation• Part of the Survival skills• Affirmed minds and hearts• Resilience for future generations (Burton, et al, 2004)
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“Home or Homeplace”
Encompassed not just the house Communities & neighborhoods Church homes Close communal network of people Multigenerational web of familiarity,
safety and love ALL LOST IN THE DEVASTATION
OF THE HURRICANE
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Survivors of Katrina
It is estimated that 80% of African Americans, particularly those who are poor, may never be able to return to their homes.
Many of the unique aspects of the African American pre-Katrina New Orleans community may never be recreated or replaced. (Troutt, 2006; Dyson, 2006; Boyd-Franklin, 2008).
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Problems with Evacuation Reluctance to leave
multigenerational home Refusal to leave elderly relatives
who refused to go Factors Related to poverty Lack of Transportation Lack of Money & Credit Cards No place to stay Entire family lived in disaster zone
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Losses on Many Levels
Death of family members, friends, and loved ones.
Unresolved mourning No funeral Deep and painful yearning for home and
community Mental health and social service workers
often focus on finding new homes without acknowledging the profound sadness and “soul wound” created by loss of their home. (Boyd-Franklin, 2008)
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Grief Counseling
Different kinds of grief Death and loss of loved ones Loss of home and community Unresolved mourning Cultural messages to “be strong” “Tears of Strength and Love”
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African American Clients’ Responses to the Trauma of Racism Healthy Cultural Suspicion Feelings of Abandonment Anger Resentment Losses of loved ones, home, and
community exacerbated by the experiences of racism and disrespect.
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Negative Experiences During Relocation Difficulty renting homes in new
cities after leaving shelters Negative experiences for African
American youth in new communities
Racial Profiling (DWB) No Ability to Return Family Separated
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Cultural Responses to Therapy Stereotypes:
*for sick or crazy people
* for White folks
* for rich folks
* for weak folks
*Re-label “therapy” as “counseling”
* Less stigma attached
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Joining with African American Clients in Disaster Situations
Be warm and welcoming Introduce yourself Do not present in a formal, rigid,
“professional manner.” Connect in a human, responsive way Be “down to earth.” Be respectful Address everyone present (not just children or
parents). Ask adults their names and how they would like
you to address them With older African Americans avoid using their
first names unless they give their permission
(Boyd-Franklin, 2003)
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Guidelines for Mental Health Professionals Particularly important in cross-racial situations Perceived racism can be equally traumatic Try not to personalize the client’s response or
anger This is not about you but about your client’s
experience of racism Don’t be defensive Try to understand the client’s perspective Allow persons to share their stories or narratives Do not debate whether or not racism was
involved
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Cautions
Do not assume that all Black people will perceive racism in a given situation
Do not assume that a Black client will be comfortable talking about racism particularly in cross-racial
situations
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When a Black Client Raises the Issue of Race or Racism Be open Say “Tell me more about it.” Elicit the Client’s narrative or story about
the experience Ask what the client was feeling when the
incident occurred Validate the client’s feelings In Cross-racial situations, ask how the
client feels discussing this issue with a White therapist
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Resilience of African Americans in the Face of Disaster, Trauma & Racism
Historic resilience of Black People Survival Skills “This is not our first disaster and it won’t
be our last.” Strengths How have you overcome traumatic
experiences in the past? How have you dealt with racism in the
past? Role of Religion and Spirituality
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Strength-Based Interventions
Clients in the midst of disasters present first with their problems, fears, and anxieties
Importance of recognizing strengths
Cultural strengths Validate: “You are a survivor.”
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Importance of a Family-Centered Approach Even when working with individual
African Americans Contextualize within a family and
extended family After a traumatic experience Be flexible in terms of involving
family members and significant others in the healing process.
(Boyd-Franklin, 2003)
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Family Therapy Interventions with African Americans Culturally appropriate treatment
intervention for African Americans Healing after disaster and trauma Need for collective healing Processing the Separation of the
family and the fear for each other Processing experiences of racism
or discrimination if they occurred
(Boyd-Franklin, 2003)
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Narrative Therapy
African Americans are storytellers Give people the opportunity to
share their stories They may need to repeat their
stories many times
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Empowerment
Our job is empowerment not just helping
As quickly as possible empower our clients to take over
Question: Are we doing too much?
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Therapeutic Support Groups
Valuable resource for helping African Americans through traumatic situations
Reconnect with a sense of community after disaster
Encourage interaction outside of the group
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In Shelters after a Disaster
Groups Multiple Family Groups Art Therapy Groups for Children Music & Song
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Support for Healers in Disaster Areas Support for our mental health
colleagues in disaster areas Support for Doctors, Nurses and
Emergency Responders Many of them were also living in
trailers and had lost everything Support for ministers Teachers and counselors in
schools
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Mental Health Providers
Training as an Antidote to Burnout Trainings addressing issues of
race Connect to mental health providers
of different races and cultures Develop your own professional
support system