The Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

By Dr. Joy Degruy

     The Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is an wonderful read that helps the reader to connect the dots between the horrific traumas that African American ancestors endured 500 years ago to the ripple effects that plagues the community present day.  Dr. Degruy  uses her personal stories from traveling abroad,to her role as a mother and her work as a therapist to illustrate the scientific points that she is driving home throughout the publication which makes it an easy read for everyone from a person with psychology background to the laymen. She is always mindful to flesh out definitions of terms early in the chapters before deep diving into heavier content such as what does a person dealing with trauma look like, representation imbalance and vacant esteem.

     Among the wide range of topics discussed in this literary work addresses the myth of race and how Europeans worked so hard to attempt to prove that African Americans were sub human via their pseudoscience spread throughout their scientific text without actually using science what so ever. She also address the patterns of behaviors that are displayed within us that many of us are unaware as to why we are responding in such ways due to our post traumatic symptoms. Not only does Dr. Degruy highlight and define issues that cripple the African American community, but also offers the family suggestions and tools that can be used to begin the journey down the road of recovery and healing so that we can all love ourselves again, then love the community at large once we are made whole. There is an accompanying workbook to help lead discussion groups, book clubs and social gatherings based around this amazing publication. Go out and grab your copy today at any major book outlet.

Seanthan Polidore

Co-Owner of The Personal Empowerment Network

Self Published Author of What’s Your Kick

Public Speaker