Racial trauma is a term used to describe the negative emotional impact of stress related to racism, racial discrimination, and race-related stressors, including stereotypes, hurtful comments, and barriers to advancement. It can stem from a particular incident or the ongoing harmful emotional impact of racial discrimination that accumulates over time. People can experience racial trauma either from direct experiences or from witnessing mistreatment of others due to their race. Furthermore, media coverage of racial discrimination events can also be distressing, and repeatedly viewing or frequent media accounts can worsen these feelings.

Racial trauma typically happens in a dominant culture or society that discriminates against and oppresses marginalized groups both overtly and covertly. It stems from severe gaslighting by a discriminatory, dominant society that makes the victim feel less important, valued, accepted, and safe than those with racial privileges. Racial trauma is unique because it causes "triple wounds" of historical, personal, and ongoing trauma. Historical trauma results from legacies of slavery, colonization, forced resettlement and assimilation, internment camps, racist government policies and laws, and racist killings. Personal trauma arises from childhood experiences of racism, while ongoing trauma results from incidents at work or in personal life, news coverage of racism, and social media racist rants.

Some people may not be aware of the impact of racism on their physical and mental health, identity, self-worth, and overall well-being.

Psychological Symptoms caused by Racial Trauma:

• PTSD-like symptoms

• Distress relating to trauma

• Avoiding things that remind the person of the trauma

• Intense anxiety or depression relating to the trauma

• Feeling distracted by memories or thoughts of the trauma

• Negative thoughts about self, other people, or the world

• Increased sensitivity and reactivity

• Dissociation – Feeling numb or disconnected from themselves or others

• Low self-esteem

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Substance abuse

• Hypervigilance guarding against racism in daily interactions and activities OR Avoidance of certain social interactions for fear of being a target of racism and discrimination.

Physical Symptoms caused by Racial Trauma:

• Physical pain

• Cardiovascular disease

• Hypertension

• Higher allostatic load – the wear and tear of the body caused by chronic stress

• Digestive issues

• High Blood pressure