Studies show trauma is often passed down genetically – meaning our ancestors' trauma lives in our DNA! Trauma from the colonial period in Africa as well as the enslavement, Jim Crow, and Civil Rights eras can be passed down from generation to generation.
And this “silent killer” can be deadly.
People who have survived trauma often experience recurring symptoms from the incident, also known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Many of our ancestors faced overwhelming violence and cruelty, and likely had PTSD.
PTSD leads to depression, anxiety, elevated stress, pregnancy complications, and much more. Those can get passed down, too.
Because of this, self-care is becoming a social justice tool that can be used to heal ancestral trauma. Self-care means taking care of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health in the way that’s best for us.
One example? Rest, which can look like sleeping 8 hours each night, taking naps, or refusing to work too hard for too little pay.
Many of our ancestors never got to rest, and that is traumatic in itself. But just like we can inherit their trauma, we can also inherit their joy – and practicing joy is healing!
Famed writer Audre Lorde described self-care as “self-preservation,” which in itself “is an act of political warfare.” Like Lorde, we must care for our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being as we continue to heal and combat racism.