"The Psychological Impact Of Slavery", Is it really the explanation for the plight of American Africans?

Yes, I believe it is. Getting over the effects of 300+ years of slavery is like dropping a rock in water and not causing a ripple, not physically possible. Andrew Hacker an author on race and gender discrimination, explored this theory using the parable "The Visit", this story challenged the white reader when an official came to them and stated they should have been born black but was accidently born white, they must be changed back to black retaining all their personality and knowledge from when they were white. The official asked what dollar amount should be payeed to them (whites) for being made physically black for the next 50 years to rectify the mistake. The answers were interesting, but not shocking.

I've never been a slave, so I don't find a causal link between any trials and tribulations I've sustained in my life to slavery...not even a little bit. I just pray hard, work hard and leave the rest to God.

Dee, If your ancestors were rich and had their land and money stolen due to their color, and you found this information out would you not want what is/was rightfully yours by birth right? This question is one that many blacks today are asking as information like the Thomas Jefferson story are showing that many blacks are wealthy by birth but have been robbed of their identity. You can't miss what you never had but that does not make it right that others should settle with being robbed because you have. Slavery has many faces so I would not say I have not been a slave nor can I relate, you and I are products of slavery and some of the trials that we have been forced to face are directly connected whether you so choose to accept or acknowledge that truth.

As a hobbiest of genealogy and family research, I found it most disturbing when trying to connect the family dots. Imagine sitting at a microfiche terminal and looking for your family lines. Now, think about the frustration when you cannot find anything before 1870 because you were not counted on the census reports because you were property/chattel. Would you cry, because you realize that we as a people did not matter? I did. The hurt of the past came back at me full force. My forefathers could not protect their children, we were seperated, sold off of the plantation to other masters. Children were literally ripped from their mother's breast never to be seen again. Did it have an effect on me personally? The answer is a resounding YES! How do we overcome the institution of Slavery? My father's theory was to "get it up here" (as he pointed to his head) "because when you get it up here, NO ONE can take it away." Great advice from a man with a 6th grade education. So we were taught to study hard, play seldom, and get the education that could not be taken away. 4 out of 6 graduated from college, 3 out of 6 continued and hold Masters, and 2 out of 6 now can say they have their PHD. Can you tell which one I am? My philosphy has always been that it takes more than an education, it also requires commen sense.
We were stripped of our identity, land, property and birth rights. We were not allowed the education unless we were sneaking behind the backs of our masters, unless the master chose to educate us. We WERE beaten, women raped and lost the dignity of our true heritage. When we dwell on it or discuss it a little, don't YOU feel anger? It is not something that we just "get over". It takes a lot of understanding, a lot of tolerance, and much more knowledge of self worth.
I am very proud of my heritage, my past, my ancestors, and especially of my father for having the foresight to get us away from the place we would have not been able to grow (Louisiana) and take us to California, where we were allowed the freedom of going to a grocery store that was not "for white/colored only". A place where eventhough Amos and Andy was on TV, we were not allowed to watch such degrogatory, stereotypical crap. The same principles which I learned would help in raising our children today. What sort people would we be if we did not allow our children to listen to the rap music that is blaring from the radios of cars being driven down the street? What image could we portray if each of us told one of the young teenagers we saw to pull their pants up? How could we guide our children if we taught them that foul language and ebonics was not acceptable? As a mother of 4 wonderful children, I can say it is not what I tolerated from them. When I heard the speech patterns of my children when they were around their friends and gave them "the look", one of them told me that they knew how to talk around people of a different race and this was just the way they conversed with their same race peers.

Wow...this is too long...but it needed to be said.

Thanks Katherine for your comment. I share your sentiments in regards to our history. I am also researching my paternal side of the family which were from Sicily Island, La----Catahoula Parish. What area are you from? Your father's advice I wish all parents would give to their children because it's true! You become a 'thinker' and hopfully learn to make the right decisions. It becomes the blue print for your life endeavors. It is heart breaking to see so many YOUNG black men headed to prison for making poor decisions. Perhaps no one ever told them that their life depended on the decisions they made. Working with teens I used to be shocked at their lack of knowledge of black history. Nine out of ten questions would be wrong. When asked if their parents (or grand parents) mention the Civil Right Movement, Panther Party, etc? They would not know what I was talking about. This is a definite travesty! After all that was accomplished in the 60's. In essence, we have to know where we have been to know where we are going. Slavery is a painful part of our history yet it holds great significance in our daily behaviours. We need to treat this trauma and move on to a healthier existance!
P. S----Hearing about the 'house negro' and the 'field negro' is one thing. Seeing it on the census was a cause to pause. The seed for self hatred and devisiveness between 'light skin/dark skin'. How sick!

Terri and all that will read this; we ask each other what has gone wrong with the black community? What’s wrong with blacks? Why can’t they act like other ethnic or racial groups in America? The root of the problem within the black America is not teenage pregnancy, drugs, the decline in family values, anger, rap music, unemployment or even the epidemic of violent crime. These are only symptoms of a deeper problem.
The root problem is the unjust distribution of wealth, power and resources. White people checkmated blacks’ efforts to improve themselves. Most whites’ live in privileged communities, with nearly 100 percent ownership and control of the nation wealth, power and all levels of government support and resources. This leaves blacks with very little in which we fight and die to do our best with.
The million of Africans that came to the new world, experience a great trauma called, “Slavery.” Think about it this way. The true nature of a dog is to be wild. If I capture that dog and tie it to a tree, beat it and deny it its’ original intent, I break its’ will. Then I feed it, therefore, making it depended on me to survive, it will become loyal. This is what happen to our ancestors, while many black pregnant women watched. That pain and anger filter down to her unborn child and to our fathers’ father and so on.
This was traumatic for our forefathers and mothers and when they were so call set free, there was know one to help them deal with the extreme psychological trauma. They all experience from what is known as, “PTSD- Post Traumatic Slavery Disorder.”

As a person who because of the color of my skin and am not interested in what our socially accepted ethnic name is "today", something like my being called "*****" is now 'the N word'...I personally look at slavery as some thing we survived.All slavery was needed in America back then was some one "easily identified" to replace those Indentured SERVANTS who because they were white so could not be easily identified and recaptured when thay ran away. The Indians did not work out so good as replacement as they too easily could be worked to death.

It is for all of the above reasons that I look at slavery as something my people survived.Today it is like surviving welfare/slums by getting out of there and into a good formal education, job and into your own dream home in peace and security.

...Temi,you may find it very interesting that your last sentence is the foundation of Buddhism? But, please take note, there are over 100 different kinds of Buddhism in teh U.S. Just as all religions have spin-off. But they all believe in cause and effect which puts you in charge of your own life/environment, have natural healing power.