Be The Healing

About

The Theory of Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome suggests that centuries of slavery followed by systemic racism and oppression have resulted in stress-induced adaptive behaviors passed down along generations of African American communities. Renowned researcher Dr. Joy DeGruy, who first proposed the idea of Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, joins us to elaborate on this model—and to celebrate resiliency and blaze a way forward. She builds on the groundwork of understanding created by Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, highlighting the ways which African American communities can come together to heal after centuries of physical, psychological, and spiritual injury. Join Dr. DeGruy for a conversation on how we can become the healing—for ourselves and for one another.

Dr. Joy DeGruy is a nationally and internationally renowned researcher and educator. For over two decades, she served as an Assistant Professor at Portland State University’s School of Social Work and now serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Joy DeGruy Publications Inc. Her research focuses on the intersection of racism, trauma, violence and American chattel slavery.