The Reverberating Influence Of Historical Trauma On The Health Of African Americans In Baltimore City

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Date

2017

Department

Public Health and Policy

Program

Doctor of Public Health

Citation of Original Publication

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This item is made available by Morgan State University for personal, educational, and research purposes in accordance with Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Other uses may require permission from the copyright owner.

Abstract

History details that Black residents of Baltimore City experienced historical trauma over multiple generations of segregation, forced displacement, physical and psychological violence, economic deprivation, and cultural loss. The Black community in Baltimore City has battled policies and practices that created many barriers to equality in education, housing, health care access, and delivery. In the past century, it would appear that Blacks have advanced to overcome social, political, and economic. However, a deeper look at these advances reveals a fractured Black community. The effects from centuries of trauma are present in the Black family, community, and culture. This research presents a qualitative analysis of how living during segregation and integration policy transition influenced the health of Blacks in Baltimore City. Using phenomenological research to understand the lived experiences of the research participants, nine themes emerged from in depth interviews. The themes revealed that segregation, inequality, and systemic racism are prevalent in the trauma experiences of Black Baltimore residents, even to the present day. Four themes emerged from the negative influence of trauma, while an additional five themes revealed resilience protective factors that Blacks used to counter the trauma of segregation and systemic racism. Michelle Sotero's (2006) Conceptual Model of Historical Trauma is modified with specificity of the history, trauma, lived experiences, and trauma response of African Americans that live in Baltimore City. Recommendations include adding race-based historical trauma to public health research and interventions. This research suggests that future research should include the phenomenon of segregation's influence on Black Baltimore residents' health to understand root causes of health disparities.