The Past Does Matter: a Nursing Perspective on Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS)

Few have reviewed the impact of post traumatic slave syndrome (PTSS) on the issues of inequities, especially as it pertains to mental and physical health. Furthermore, the impact of PTSS on the social determinants of health is an area that has been researched by few investigators. The possibilities that the impact of slavery and/or major stress events in the life of a population can become trans-generational are lost to history. Think about what is taking place in cities around the country and then think about racist socialization (internalized racism) and its impact on our society. Combining these factors with the lack of real medical care and the bias that plagues our medical establishment and society in general, the net result is a society faced with inequities that seem to be unresolvable, simply because we have lost perspective about a major root cause of the problem.