Do African Americans suffer from multi-generational anger? Over the last couple of weeks I have witnessed what I would call “anger” being expressed among members in many of the discussions. Topics that span relationships, religion, and current events catch the brunt of these heated discussions that often are reduced to petty name calling and hurling insults. What was once a novel tool to end an intelligent debate seems to have become a useless attempt in the discussions that take place here: “Let’s just agree, to disagree.” It never seems to work though. In fact, writing that often escalates the intensity of the disagreement. Because it’s becoming a predictable pattern, it makes me wonder whether most Black people suffer from a type of anger that is deeply rooted and spans generations. So, I started to do some research. But let me start by saying, I'm not necessarily agreeing with all aspects of what appears in the links nor am I advocating the content so you're free to disagree with it. I merely want to point to the fact about what's being written about us in terms of anger and how it's perceived to affect us.
Generally, “How we deal with stress, disappointments, and frustration determines the essence of our personality. Anger may do more harm than any other emotion. First of all it is very common and, secondly, it upsets at least two people--the aggressor and the aggressed against. There are two problems: how to prevent or control your own anger and how to handle someone aggressing against you.
The overall effects of anger are enormous (Nay, 1996). Frustration tells us "I'm not getting what I want" and eventually anger is related to violence, crime, spouse and child abuse, divorce, stormy relationships, poor working conditions, poor physical health (headaches, hypertension, GI disturbances, heart attacks), emotional disorders, and so on”.
http://mentalhelp.net/psyhelp/chap7/chap7b.htm
But what do you think causes African Americans to get so angry such that we can't seem to have constructive dialogue without an argument developing? A study was done involving African American males and here’s some of what is written:
“The rate of incarceration and other correctional programming experienced by African American males in the United States represents an epidemic. Though various offenses are cited as reasons for this odd situation, the accused have one thing in common besides their color. They tend to be exceedingly angry. In fact, they are often enraged. Routinely this is the most vivid emotion experienced by these and other African American males and fathers. Although these feelings are intense, there is often no clear external event or circumstance that seems to relate directly to them. Thus, many of those affected do not know why they are so angry and cannot find ways to cope with, process, and escape the consequences of "free floating anger."
In order to even begin exploring and assessing the depth of this kind of anger, we must identify its roots. This anger is not limited to current events and day-to-day realities. Rather, it brings into play "historical memories" fueled by anger that has been accumulated, vicariously, as a result of situations and suffering experienced by past generations of African Americans from the slave period to the present.
This "multi-generational anger" is:
Not event specific and is pervasive.
•Often results in excessive explosiveness.
•Usually not understood by the person or others effected.
•Not responsive to traditional anger management curriculum.
•Often projected inwardly through dysfunctional behaviors (i.e.: substance abuse, crime, under achievement).
•Physically and psychologically damaging.
•Misinterpreted by others as a genetic pre-disposition toward violence.
http://www.fcnetwork.org/fatherhood/gooding.html
You think Black women aren’t angry too? Julianne Malveaux explains why she think Black women get angry. Read a little of what Julianne wrote about Black women and anger:
“Anger is a sign of something gone wrong. Every hell-raiser knows that. What alert Black woman living in this racist society doesn't have a right to be angry? Walk down any city street and see strong and healthy Black men out of work. Who doesn't feel a burst of anger? Flip through the pages of our federal budget and look at the tax dollars spent on MX missiles and B-1 bombers, not food or books. Isn't that cause for anger? Think about Michael Griffith chased to his death by white men in Howard Beach. Anger. The U.S. Supreme Court trying, again, to snatch our hard-won civil rights by challenging affirmative-action set-asides by asking for "proof" of discrimination in the recent Richmond vs. Croson ruling. Anger. Or what about the thousands of Black women who crave marriage and families and the forces that conspire to keep them from having them? Anger. And that Bill Moyers special "The Vanishing Family: Crisis in Black America," and the arrogance implicit in his wishful thinking? Anger. Or workfare programs, some of which look like a new kind of slavery, being implemented in city after city? Anger--a reaction to something very wrong. But there are a lot of wrongs in this unjust world, and as I get older and wiser I consider the advice of people who say "Pick your battles."
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_n1_v20/ai_7510211
I shared all of that to say that I can understand why there may be so many disagreements in our discussions here. As much as some of us may want to focus more on the positive side of life, our reality is, we have good reason to be angry. But as we can also see from these articles, anger can contribute to our self-destruction more so than the reasons we are angry.
So, if you're angry, you may have every right to be so. However, we need to learn about ways to handle this emotion and channel it in ways so that it doesn’t hurt or destroy us.
Let’s keep the discussions flowing, but let’s not suffer from misplaced rage at the same time by senselessly attacking each other. Instead of getting angry, let’s become better teachers so that we can all benefit from the lessons and information so many people have to offer.
Peace,
Queenie
