White Trauma: Creating space for white people’s vulnerability with the hopes of undoing the perpetuation of structural/systemic racism. Racism, at its most basic level, is a lens though which people interpret, naturalize, and reproduce inequality. We all struggle to truly see one another due to the conditioning and trauma that has been imposed upon us, which becomes the breeding ground for implicit bias and racial disconnection. This is one of the factors that makes it so difficult for us, as mental health professionals, to have real conversations about things that matter; things that heal. Racism is not a “white” issue it is a systematic/structural issue designed to keep in place white cultural dominance. This system has caused harm to us all. All of us have biases and they go where we go--in our homes, workspace, schools, community etc. It is critical for space to be created for white people to be able to acknowledge and address their own trauma, without shame or guilt, so true racial healing and mental health healing can begin. If the trauma in white bodies is not healed, then it will be passed on to the next generation and continue the cycle. What is in us will come out, unintentionally or intentionally, because The Body Keeps the Score.
Presentation Resources
Sherronda Jamerson obtained a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 2012 from City University College in Seattle, WA, and became certified as a Chemical Dependency Professional in 2007. Her experiences include developing, implementing, and presenting EDI trainings to associations of healthcare professionals, healthcare providers, schools, and community-based organizations. She has also presented at state and national behavioral health conferences on the topics of DEI and Healthcare Equity. She presents with confidence and passion.
