Black Americans in this country have always dealt with, and overcome hardships. Whether it be the hundreds of years of slavery, the decades of fighting for civil rights, or the modern-day oppression we experience in our personal and professional lives, Black people have always found a way to turn their setbacks into setups for a bright and prosperous future.
However, while we can be credited for many of the greatest parts of modern culture, we often fail to recognize how our hardships have affected our physical, mental, and emotional health as individuals and families. It has become the norm for us to ignore “signs of weakness” and uphold this narrative of a strong Black man or woman. While this seems like no big deal in your personal life, this can and has become detrimental to the advancement of Black people when passed from generation to generation. However, in 2025 and beyond, we will address and break these common generational cycles so that every generation after us is closer to positive health in all aspects.
To help you get started, here are three generational cycles you and your family can begin to overcome in 2025.
Like all generational cycles, they did not just appear out of nowhere. They each have a history and justification behind them. More specifically, when it comes to asking for help, Black people were never made to believe that others would help them. We have become accustomed to being hurt by non-Black people and having to fight for our place so much in this country that what was once a means of defense and growth, has now become a limitation.
When we refuse to ask for help, we are stripping ourselves of our basic human need for relationships and assistance and holding ourselves to unrealistic expectations. Sometimes, we will even risk slowing down personal or professional growth just to handle a situation ourselves. But this perpetuates so many false narratives that affect us the most. We start to believe that we can’t trust anyone, don’t need platonic or romantic relationships, or don’t have the right to experience the rollercoaster that is basic human emotions.
Each of these narratives not only affects how we operate, but they impact how others see us as well. If we communicate that we don’t need anything or anyone, others will stop offering help in dire situations. Of course, there are several other discriminatory reasons why we are not given assistance in comparison to other races. However, if we want to help the issue, we have to begin to push the narrative that we, like all other humans, need help.
So, to get yourself used to asking for help, you have a couple of options. You can first try offering your emotions. If asking is the uncomfortable part for you right now, that’s no problem. Lay out your stressors to people you trust. It can be as simple as telling your spouse, “It frustrates me when I have to do the laundry and dishes as soon as I come home from work.” You never had to ask and when communicating this to someone you love, it is often met with an action that solves your problem. As you get more comfortable communicating your stress, you can begin to ask for small things that would assist you in your personal life. Before you know it, you will feel comfortable even asking for help in bigger parts of your personal and professional life.
The more you begin to offer up your needs and ask for help, the more you will see its benefits and how many opportunities can be released to you when you do so.
Let’s start by establishing that this idea, “mental health is for white people” is wrong. Mental health is for everyone because we all deal with our own personal struggles that impact the way we think. However, like our hesitancy to ask for help, this false idea has an origin as well.
For most of American history, mental health was not a resource that was available to Black people and some would even argue that oppressed Black Americans had “bigger fish to fry.” During slavery and civil rights, Black people spent most of their time trying to survive rather than picking apart their mental state. But even when slavery was abolished and the civil rights movement was over, we were still seen as being at the bottom of society so there was no effort to advance us as people, let alone our mental health.
Even though our mental state wasn’t a priority in this country, we have to make it a priority within ourselves. As individuals, Black Americans have their own trauma and stressors to address but additionally, we still subconsciously deal with stressors that some researchers believe are actually embedded in us biologically.
This is why mental health resources like group or individual therapy can help us talk about things that we are experiencing and how they affect our lives and those around us. Even aside from the more traditional pathways to positive mental health, a lifestyle change can be impactful as well. By establishing a routine, and prioritizing physical and nutritional health, your body will begin to feel refreshed in return, your mental state can improve.
Physical health can be a very difficult topic for many Black Americans. For centuries Black people have had to find alternative ways of handling trauma whether that be through humor, sports, activism, etc. While each of these, on the surface, has become some of the most beautiful parts of our culture, they are sometimes how we cover up unfamiliar or uncomfortable topics like physical health. However, health conditions, of course, are serious, and don’t care how much we ignore them or try to diminish them, they will persist until treated.
Even more so, Black people often experience discrimination when it comes to health care. This can be because of the dehumanizing narrative that all Black people are strong, or it can be because of flat-out racism. However, this in combination with our own discomfort with the topic of health can lead to very chronic conditions for ourselves and our loved ones.
As an example, Black Americans have a higher risk of developing diseases like diabetes or breast cancer. But even certain career paths in the military or construction industry where one may be exposed to toxic chemicals and asbestos, can make Black people susceptible to rare diseases like epithelioid mesothelioma. Essentially, ignoring symptoms will not make us less likely to develop common or rare conditions which is why it’s important that we take steps to prioritize our physical health.
To do so, be sure to schedule regular checkups with a primary doctor. Be honest and clear about any pain or discomfort you may be feeling so that it can be addressed effectively. If it helps, try to find a doctor that will understand your needs. If this means that they are a woman or also Black American, this can help you become comfortable with your doctor and the difficult topics you may encounter.
Aside from regular checkups, you’ll want to have someone close to you holding you accountable for your health. This can be a friend or family member but they should help you in maintaining a healthy routine, not making light of serious health conditions, etc. Having an accountability partner will help to avoid any feelings of loneliness as well and can normalize the journey as a whole.
Generational trauma has had a hold on Black Americans for hundreds of years. However, we should be proud of the steps we have taken to improve ourselves and our culture and create a great future for upcoming generations. Like all of our other setbacks, Black Americans continue to triumph over situations and ways of thinking that were meant to keep us down and these generational cycles are no different. Whether you’re in the beginning stages of breaking down these cycles or you’re starting to teach others how to do so, you should be proud. It is not only improving your life but the lives of all the beautiful Black people to come!
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