Racial trauma is the stressful impact or emotional pain of one’s experience with racism and discrimination. It can be linked to a specific event, or created by the racism one experiences in daily life – at work, in the community, and in our organizations.
Understanding racial trauma – and knowing how to respond to it – is an essential union skill. This tip sheet, written by the Association of Black Psychologists, can help union members understand how better to deal with situations of racism, connect with traumatized members, and elevate your local’s overall awareness of racial trauma, its impacts and its solutions.
After reading, reflect on the following questions:
- How has racial trauma impacted my life and my union work?
- How can I put the tips in this sheet to work in our local?
- How can I contribute to building a safer space in our local?