The aim of this phenomenological qualitative research study was to explore the secondary experiences of Black males in the United States who heard, read or viewed the fatal shooting of Stephon Clark by the Sacramento Police Department on March 18, 2018. Utilizing in-depth interviews of (n=62) Black males candidly shared their experiences. Results indicated that 95% of participants reported a theme of posttraumatic stress related symptoms (fear for their own lives; hyper-vigilance; flashbacks) as a result of viewing, hearing or reading about the fatal shooting of Stephon Clark. Three major themes emerged in the study: (1) emotional reactions of anger and sadness among Black men; (2) psychophysiological symptoms of hypervigilance, avoidance and dissociation;and (3)injustices around Black male bodies being targeted. The findings suggest the importance of culturally sensitive practice interventions around understanding and assessing race-based secondary trauma by way of viewing, reading, or hearing racial traumatic events. In addition, further research is necessary on identifying additional cultural and historical barriers that may impede treatment for this vulnerable population if experiencing secondary race-based trauma.

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