Black History Month—Connecting Culture and Well-Being - with Old Towne Counseling Services

Black History Month turned 50 this year, having been officially recognized in 1976. But its roots can be traced back to “Negro History Week” established in 1926, marking 100 years of organized Black History commemorations. Black History Month is recognized as a time when we honor the legacies and contributions of African Americans across U.S. History and society. But for some, their race could be hazardous to their mental health.  

Persons of color or racial minority are far more likely to experience racism or discrimination from negative life events such as poverty, incarceration, abuse or unemployment. These experiences are a daily but overlooked reality that can take a serious toll on mental health, increasing an individual’s risk for depression, anxiety, stress or substance abuse (Helpguide.org)  

According to Mental Health of America, experiencing race-based discrimination can have detrimental psychological impacts and prolonged incidents of racism can lead to symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). These symptoms can show up as anger, depression, low self-esteem, or can even be physical, such as chest pains, headaches, or insomnia. Racialized trauma can be experienced directly from other people or within a wider system. For example, in one month alone there were about 15,000 reported incidents of anti-Asian racism after the outbreak of COVID-19. Over the course of one year, Twitter saw 4.2 million anti-Semitic tweets and in 2018 almost 40% of Latin people were verbally attacked (Mental Health America) 

There is also systemic racism that individuals face such as restricted access to opportunities including health care, home ownership and jobs, or racist policing, arrests and sentencing practices in the criminal justice system. These traumatic stressors, for some, have been passed down from one generation to the next, adding to the traumatic experience.  

No matter your experience, it is important to remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! While racism and discrimination will not disappear overnight, there are ways to cope with your circumstances and protect your mental health: 

-Reach out to others to share your pain- it is natural to want to bottle up your anger or feelings of hopelessness but  speaking openly and honestly about your experience is the first step to healing.  

-Embrace. Your. Ethnicity- develop a strong sense of your ethnic identity. Embrace your heritage and take pride in  your culture. 

-Channel your anger-find ways to constructively channel your anger that can provoke meaningful change. 

-Allow yourself to hope-even during the hardest times when it seems like everything is negative, there can be a  reason no matter how small to be optimistic. 

-Take care of yourself- find ways to cope with the stress of adversity. Take a walk, exercise, read, write, and rest. 

Take the time to dive into your culture this month. Reach out to older family members to discuss their experiences, research the history of your culture, and leaders who have made an impact. Take the family or friends and visit a museum or place of worship, locate local groups or workshops in your community, or find cultural events that may be happening near you.  

This month should serve as a time to address the mental health challenges faced in various communities that have been deeply rooted in historical racialized trauma. If you or someone you know may have experienced racism of any kind and are suffering, please seek therapy from a culturally competent clinician who can create a safe, culturally affirming space to heal.  

Each day, each and every one of us can stand up and advocate for change!  

References 

Anna Kode (n.a.) The Home of Carter G. Woodson, the man behind Black History Month by The New York Times, ASALH The Founders of Black History Month https://asalh.org/the-home-of-carter-g-woodson-the-man-behind-black-history-month-by-the-new-york-times/ 

Mental Health America https://mhanational.org/resources/racial-trauma/ 

Robinson & Smith (2026, February) Racism and Mental Health https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/ptsd-trauma/racism-and-mental-health