About the Author
Dr. Joy DeGruy is an internationally renowned lecturer and consultant on issues of race, culture, and education. She is the author of relationship-based models for both education and management and has developed the African American Male Youth Respect Scale. Among her many presentations, she has spoken at the U.N. Conference on Race in Barbados, the National Association of Black Social Workers Annual Conference, and the Essence Women of Leadership Summit. Dr. DeGruy teaches at Portland State University.
Summary of the Book
People often define race based on skin color, such as Black, White, Yellow, or Red. Others classify race according to geographic or ethnic origins, including African, European, Asian, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, Pacific Islander, Negroid, Caucasoid, and Mongoloid. However, the biology of human beings shows that there are no significant biological differences that separate people into distinct races. Although people commonly identify race by skin color, hair texture, facial features, and other physical characteristics, these traits do not provide a scientific basis for dividing humanity into racial groups.
When people believe that others are fundamentally different from themselves, they may begin to dehumanize those groups, which can lead to racism. Dehumanization is based on the belief that certain groups are less than human and therefore deserve cruel treatment. A belief is an opinion or conviction about the world that people hold with confidence. During slavery, many White people believed that Black men and women were inferior. This belief was used to justify inhumane acts, including slavery, rape, and other forms of brutality, often under the guise of science.
According to the author, slavery has had lasting effects on Black people across generations. She introduces the concept of Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS), which she defines as a condition of multigenerational trauma combined with continued oppression and limited access to opportunities and resources in society. PTSS is described as a syndrome because it consists of patterns of behavior that develop under specific historical and social conditions.
The author identifies three major behavioral patterns associated with PTSS: vacant esteem, ever-present anger, and racist socialization. She argues that healing from PTSS requires self-knowledge, confronting the wounds of the past, building self-esteem, taking control of one's inner life, telling the truth about history, serving as positive role models, sharing personal and collective stories, drawing strength from faith and religion, building strong communities, developing effective leadership, and engaging in honest self-reflection.
Evaluation
The book consists of 226 pages and is divided into six chapters: I Don't Notice Race, Whole to Three-Fifths: Dehumanization, Crimes Against Humanity, Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, Slavery's Children, and Healing. It provides a concise history of slavery, examines its lasting psychological and social effects, and discusses pathways toward healing. The book is well organized and easy to read. The author also draws on experiences from Africa, adding broader historical and cultural perspectives. Overall, the book is engaging, informative, and thoughtfully written.
Recommendation
This book is suitable for anyone who wants to understand the history of slavery and its long-term effects. It is especially recommended for Black readers because it offers insights into healing and encourages a deeper understanding of historical trauma and identity. It is also valuable for teachers, parents, psychologists, and other professionals who work with diverse communities, as it provides perspectives that can help them better understand the experiences and behaviors of people affected by historical and intergenerational trauma.