PSYC FPX 4325 Assessment 2

PSYC FPX 4325 Assessment 2

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Student Name

Capella University

PSYC-FPX4325 Stress, Trauma, and Wellness

Prof. Name

Date

Marginalization and the African American (Black) Community

Introduction

Marginalized populations consistently experience barriers that restrict their access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. These disparities result in higher rates of chronic illnesses and negative mental health outcomes compared to non-marginalized groups (Baker et al., 2022). Among these groups, the African American (Black) community remains one of the most affected due to historical, structural, and systemic inequities. The marginalization of African Americans is deeply rooted in the legacy of slavery and reinforced by enduring discriminatory systems.

This paper explores the origins, persistence, and modern manifestations of marginalization within the African American community. It further examines how systemic racism impacts their health, education, and overall quality of life, creating generational cycles of disadvantage and psychological stress.

Historical Context and Lasting Effects of Racism

Being a member of the African American community often entails enduring persistent stress, even for individuals several generations removed from slavery. This stress arises from deeply embedded systemic racism and intergenerational trauma. The historical oppression faced by African Americans has created ongoing disadvantages across multiple life domains.

Healthcare Inequities

African American women experience significantly higher rates of mortality during prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum periods than any other racial group (Njoku et al., 2023). These disparities can be traced back to racist medical assumptions during slavery, where Black individuals were wrongly believed to have a higher pain tolerance. Such biases persist today, influencing how medical professionals respond to Black patients’ symptoms, leading to delayed or inadequate care.

Aspect of Healthcare Disparity	Impact on African American Community	Supporting Evidence
Maternal and prenatal care	Higher mortality rates among Black mothers	Njoku et al. (2023)
Pain management	Underestimation of reported pain levels	Historical and modern bias
Trust in healthcare providers	Lower confidence and reduced engagement in preventive care	Baker et al. (2022)

The resulting mistrust between Black patients and medical systems contributes to a cycle of fear, avoidance, and poorer health outcomes. The lack of confidence in being treated fairly or compassionately adds emotional and psychological stress to an already burdened community.

Educational Inequities and Systemic Barriers

The educational marginalization of African Americans has roots in slavery and the Jim Crow era, during which they were prohibited or severely restricted from obtaining an education. It was not until the 1960s that initiatives like the “Freedom Schools” movement sought to rectify this injustice by promoting equal educational opportunities (Freedom Schools – SNCC Digital Gateway, 2021).

Despite these advancements, racial inequities remain prevalent. African American students are disproportionately disciplined in public schools and are more likely to be suspended or expelled for similar behaviors exhibited by their peers of other races (Peterson, 2023). These biases stem from stereotypes portraying Black children as more defiant or aggressive, which in turn fuel the school-to-prison pipeline.

Educational Challenge	Description	Consequence
Disproportionate discipline	Black students face harsher punishments for comparable behaviors	Reinforces school-to-prison pipeline
Inequitable resources	Underfunded schools in predominantly Black areas	Limits educational advancement
Biased testing and curricula	Lack of culturally inclusive materials	Reduces engagement and achievement

These inequalities perpetuate cycles of academic underachievement, poverty, and community instability. Families experience continuous stress trying to navigate systems that are not designed for their success, reinforcing generational trauma.

Common Stressors Among the African American (Black) Community

1. Continuous Exposure to Racial Trauma

Constant exposure to racism, discrimination, and racial violence generates chronic psychological stress. The repeated viewing of unjust killings of Black individuals in the media, alongside daily experiences of microaggressions, contributes to collective trauma. Although society often claims that “slavery is over,” many African Americans still face the emotional burden of witnessing systemic injustice, which heightens feelings of anxiety, anger, and distrust (Alang et al., 2021).

2. Stigma Surrounding Mental Health

Mental health stigma within the African American community remains a major concern. Historically, mistrust toward healthcare professionals and societal judgment have discouraged individuals from seeking psychological help. Many African Americans feel unsafe or ashamed to discuss mental health challenges, fearing invalidation or stereotyping (Why Mental Health Care Is Stigmatized in Black Communities, n.d.).

This lack of access to culturally competent mental health care often leads to unaddressed trauma, maladaptive coping behaviors, and even legal complications due to emotionally driven decisions. Encouraging open discussions about mental health, promoting community-based counseling, and increasing representation of Black mental health professionals are essential steps in reducing this stigma.

Common Stressor	Description	Psychological Impact
Racial trauma	Exposure to discrimination and racialized violence	Anxiety, depression, PTSD
Mental health stigma	Cultural and systemic barriers to seeking care	Emotional suppression, mistrust, maladaptive coping
Economic disparities	Limited access to stable employment and resources	Chronic stress and low well-being

Community Advocacy and Corporate Support

Several organizations and corporations have begun advocating for equity and healing within the African American community. One such organization is BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective), which focuses on promoting mental wellness through peer support, educational training, and community events. BEAM connects individuals with culturally relevant resources and empowers them to embrace mental health as a form of self-care and community care (BEAM, n.d.).

These initiatives not only address immediate emotional needs but also foster long-term empowerment and unity. By offering representation, mentorship, and safe spaces, organizations like BEAM help reshape the narrative of Black resilience and success.

Conclusion

The marginalization of African Americans remains deeply interwoven into the fabric of American society. Historical injustices, systemic racism, and institutionalized inequities continue to impact the physical, mental, and economic well-being of this community. Through awareness, advocacy, and systemic reform—particularly in healthcare, education, and mental health—there is hope for dismantling these barriers. Empowerment initiatives such as BEAM demonstrate the importance of collective healing and resilience in creating a more equitable future.

References

Alang, S., McAlpine, D., & McClain, M. (2021). Police encounters as stressors: Associations with depression and anxiety across race. Socius, 7, 2378023121998128. https://doi.org/10.1177/2378023121998128

Baker, K., Adams, J., & Steel, A. (2022). Experiences, perceptions and expectations of health services amongst marginalized populations in urban Australia: A meta-ethnographic review of the literature. Health Expectations: An International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy, 25(5), 2166–2187. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13386

BEAM. (n.d.). Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective. https://beam.community/

PSYC FPX 4325 Assessment 2

Freedom Schools – SNCC Digital Gateway. (2021, September 25). SNCC Digital Gateway. https://snccdigital.org/inside-sncc/culture-education/freedom-schools/

Njoku, A., Evans, M., Nimo-Sefah, L., & Bailey, J. (2023). Listen to the whispers before they become screams: Addressing Black maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. Healthcare (Basel), 11(3), 438. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11030438

Peterson, E. (2023, July 31). Racial inequality in public school discipline for Black students in the United States. Ballard Brief. https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/racial-inequality-in-public-school-discipline-for-black-students-in-the-united-states

Why Mental Health Care Is Stigmatized in Black Communities. (n.d.). USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. https://dworakpeck.usc.edu/news/why-mental-health-care-stigmatized-black-communities