During my spring semester, I decided to enroll in HISTCI 1472: Mental Health in Crisis: From War Neurosis to Covid-19 taught by Professor Joelle Abi-Rached and teaching fellow, Molly walker. As described on the course website, the course “explores the history of mental health through the ways in which our minds grapple with war, terror, shock, violence, and natural and manmade disasters. The course starts in the nineteenth century, a period that saw the birth of the concept of “traumatic memory,” and ends in our own century, which saw the emergence of new forms of mental distress caused by migration and refugee crises as well as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Drawing on interdisciplinary readings, we will analyze the extent to which ways of thinking about and acting on broken minds are being reshaped by “crises.”

The course successfully explored major themes, including PTSD, war neuroses, the effects of Natural disasters, and the legacy of trauma caused by slavery. The themes presented by the legacy of trauma resonated with me and inspired my final project for the course. As an African-American woman, the legacy of trauma caused by slavery is a notion I was previously aware of, although, through HISTCI 1472, I had the opportunity to deeply explore this concept and apply it beyond the conversations discussed in weekly lectures.

American racism has caused African Americans to experience generational trauma which has negatively affected the mental health of African American youth and adults throughout history. The legacy of trauma that affects African Americans is amplified by the alienation of this phenomenon from media attention. Recognizing the significance of generational trauma and the role it plays in mental health is the first step toward developing methods to aid the healing process of victims. Taking a step back and applying notions I have gathered about generational trauma, reminded me of the intricacy of intersection. In my life, being an African-American, Muslim woman has led to countless circumstances attesting to my resilience. I knew it was important to preserve the theme of intersection in my project which is why I prioritized women as the guest of my podcast series.

My project aims to delve into relevant topics, while it is understood that the numerous systems put in place, left a stain on American society and severely damaged the generational livelihoods of oppressed communities, further inquiry reveals the way its effects remain present today. Creating spaces for victims to reconcile with the tragedy their ancestors met, is essential. Perspectives take action by creating spaces for women affected by the generational trauma passed on.