A Phenomenological Investigation of African American Millennials' Views on Historical Trauma
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Garcia, Jorge
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
The George Washington University
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2020
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
202
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Body granting the degree
The George Washington University
Text preceding or following the note
2020
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Background: The current DSM-5 criteria for trauma eliminate events that do not involve actual or threatened death or injury to an individual or someone that that individual has a close relationship with. This is quite limiting as it ignores the reality that one person's negative experiences may have long-term effects for others as well. Historical trauma is a concept that accounts for these trickle down effects by outlining the manner in which trauma can be group experience that is cumulative over time and damaging across generations. While historical trauma has been explored in relation to some historically marginalized groups, a review of the existing literature reveals that African American historical trauma is an understudied topic. African Americans possess a rich history, inclusive of both tragedy and triumph, with perhaps the most widely recognized of the tragedies being chattel slavery. Slavery would then be followed by many years of institutionalized racism and an ongoing struggle for equality. The purpose of this study is to explore the manner in which African Americans perceive and make meaning of historical traumas experienced by earlier generations, and how they cope with those realities in the present.