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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