The Enduring Impact of Racism on Black Mental Wellbeing
The psychological effects of racism on Black individuals have been widely documented across both Britain and the United States. These effects are not new; they are rooted deeply in the histories of slavery and colonialism. The negative stereotypes and racial myths that persist today are a result of the long-standing miseducation about the history, identity, and civilizations of Black people.
Racism fosters a false belief in white superiority while instilling feelings of inferiority in people of non-European descent. This belief system was formalized during the transatlantic slave trade, when European powers kidnapped and enslaved millions of Africans—many from rich and sophisticated cultures. These Africans were stripped of their identities and forced into a brutal system of dehumanization and exploitation, laying the foundations for an enduring and deeply embedded system of Eurocentric racism.
The ideology of racism was created to justify this dehumanization. Europeans convinced themselves of their cultural and intellectual superiority. African languages, clothing, spiritual beliefs, and practices were banned, and efforts were made to erase African identity to suppress resistance and enforce compliance.
Missionary activities supported colonial dominance by creating a class of Africans loyal to colonial rule, often educated in mission schools that taught subservience and religious indoctrination. Africans were taught to see their own cultures as evil and inferior, and Christianity was presented as the only legitimate belief system. These beliefs were enforced through institutions such as the Church Missionary Society and the Wesleyan Missionary Society, which worked from the early 1800s to ‘civilize’ African populations.
Despite efforts to erase African traditions, many Africans retained elements of their culture, often blending them with Christian practices. Still, generations grew up internalizing negative stereotypes about Blackness, including ideas that Black equates to evil and white to good.
Identity and Personality
Personality is shaped by culture, environment, and social experiences. For many Black individuals, the racism they encounter has led to fractured self-perceptions. According to psychologist Dr. Na’im Akbar, Black identity crises can manifest in three ways:
- Alien Self Disorder – When individuals deny their racial identity or avoid acknowledging racism. They may reject anything associated with Blackness unless validated by white peers. This is especially evident in the reluctance of some African Caribbean people to identify with African heritage.
- Anti-Self Disorder – This is marked by hostility toward one’s own racial group. It is often expressed through intra-community violence, shame, or silence around issues such as the transatlantic slave trade. For example, in the 1980s and 1990s, efforts to raise funds for African causes in the UK were often poorly supported by Black communities, while mainstream charity events received greater enthusiasm.
- Self-Destructive Disorder – This includes substance abuse and risky behaviors as a way to escape or cope with social and racial pressures.
Environment, Society, and Role Models
Living in a predominantly white society can be damaging to non-white identities, especially when surrounded by negative media representations and racial stereotypes. Black children in foster care with white families often experience confusion around their identity, and Black girls face compounded challenges from both racism and sexism.
A Health Education Authority study found that parental expectations strongly influence children's self-esteem and future aspirations. Unfortunately, many Black children are socialized to internalize inferiority through both direct and indirect societal messaging.
Economic Exploitation and Mental Health
The historic and ongoing economic disenfranchisement of Black communities contributes significantly to poor mental health. Economic instability, lack of access to opportunity, and systemic discrimination all compound the psychological burden on Black individuals.
Modern cultural expressions—particularly within music and media—often reflect deep-rooted traumas. The glamorization of violence and misogyny in some forms of rap music, for instance, mirrors the broader identity crisis among some Black youth, not just in the U.S. but also in the UK.
Education and Historical Awareness
A significant part of healing and progress lies in education. Many second-generation African Caribbean parents have not passed on accurate or affirming histories of Black identity, leaving younger generations vulnerable to harmful narratives.
Racism must be confronted not only through legislation but also through education that includes the achievements, struggles, and resilience of Black people throughout history. Understanding this history is essential in dismantling the myths that fuel both racial superiority and inferiority.
As David Bennett, Chair of the Black History Month Group, rightly states, "If you don’t love yourself, nobody else will; and if you don’t love your colour, you can’t love yourself."
Addressing racism requires both societal and personal transformation, and it begins with reclaiming the narratives that were taken from Black communities for generations.
