We often have the same questions when Black folks watch horror and suspense thrillers. We constantly shout at the screen that the victims' behavior is unrealistic. And when Black folks hear, see, or even imagine something that goes bump in the night, we're out.
During slavery, our ancestors spent their days in terror. If they saw or heard something, they often reacted with caution. Any wrong move could be met with punishment or death. Any sound in the woods prompted immediate action from those who tried to escape.
The Jim Crow and segregation eras also sparked fears. One wrong word or move against someone white could cause a cross to burn in the yard or worse. Could our instinct to flee be born from the past?
Studies have been conducted to trace the origins of primal fear. Anxiety and fear of the unknown are natural occurrences. However, science has found several genetic markers that indicate that not only fear but specific memories can be passed down genetically.
Intergenerational fear is real. Perhaps that's why at the first sign of something untoward, Black folks leave a trail of dust in our wake. It’s worth wondering: At what point are our actions instinctual versus intergenerational trauma?