Rising Through Historical African Resilience

This study delves into the profound impact of historical trauma and the remarkable resilience within the African American community in the United States. Enslaved Africans, who were forced to endure inhumane conditions to build the nation, brought with them their rich culture, which has significantly shaped the tapestry of American culture. The legacy of slavery, coupled with enduring discrimination, has led to historical trauma for their descendants.

Utilizing bivariate correlation and a series of one-way analyses of variance tests (ANOVAs), this research seeks to understand the relationship between historical trauma and resilience within the African American community. Furthermore, it explores how various demographic groups within this community report their experiences with historical trauma and resilience. The study involved 212 English-speaking, self-identified African Americans ranging in age from 19 to 71, all born in the contiguous United States. To assess historical trauma and resilience, participants completed the African American Historical Trauma Questionnaire and the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale-25.