A Systematic Review of Black People Coping With Racism: Approaches, Analysis, and Empowerment

Abstract

This article reviews the current research literature concerning Black people in Western societies to better understand how they regulate their emotions when coping with racism, which coping strategies they use, and which strategies are functional for well-being. A systematic review of the literature was conducted, and 26 studies were identified on the basis of a comprehensive search of multiple databases and reference sections of relevant articles. Studies were quantitative and qualitative, and all articles located were from the United States or Canada. Findings demonstrate that Black people tend to cope with racism through social support (friends, family, support groups), religion (prayer, church, spirituality), avoidance (attempting to avoid stressors), and problem-focused coping (confronting the situation directly). Findings suggest gender differences in coping strategies. We also explore the relationship between coping with physical versus emotional pain and contrast functional versus dysfunctional coping approaches, underscoring the importance of encouraging personal empowerment to promote psychological well-being. Findings may help inform mental-health interventions. Limitations include the high number of American-based samples and exclusion of other Black ethnic and national groups, which is an important area for further exploration.

A clinical scale for the assessment of racial trauma.

“…For example, if a client highly endorses “using prescription medication to help with feelings,” the therapist might say, “You noted that you are using medications to help cope with your feelings surrounding the racism you experience. Can you tell me more about that?” This could open the conversation to discussing topics like the types of racism experienced and coping strategies (e.g., Jacob et al, 2022), and the therapist and client can mutually decide which coping strategies are values-aligned and/or how to build more functional strategies so that medication will become less necessary.…”

“…Similarly, "watching my surroundings for danger" and "avoiding certain situations or speaking to certain people" are common behaviors exhibited by individuals with racial trauma who may be triggered by microaggressions (e.g., Williams et al, 2014). Substance use and binge eating have been reported as ways that some people cope with racial discrimination, so we included the item "finding it difficult to cope without food/alcohol/ drugs" (Assari, 2018;Jacob et al, 2022). Other trauma scales were examined, and suitable items were adapted as appropriate for the purpose of this investigation (e.g., TSDS, UnRESTS).…”

“…Can you tell me more about that?" This could open the conversation to discussing topics like the types of racism experienced and coping strategies (e.g., Jacob et al, 2022), and the therapist and client can mutually decide which coping strategies are values-aligned and/or how to build more functional strategies so that medication will become less necessary.…”

Getting to the Root of the Problem: Supporting Clients With Lived-Experiences of Systemic Discrimination

“…Coping paradigms should look beyond individual actions as one of the most effective vectors of coping, and instead look to those being used more frequently in racialized communities. 3 Just like other forms of capital, social capital can be nurtured or destroyed. Placing more focus on enhancing social cohesion and deepening trust within and among communities will lighten the burden on individuals by providing them with a well of good-will which can be drawn on in a personal or social crisis, as well as providing ongoing stability and connection to improve individual health and resilience.…”

“…To that end, and as a further anecdote, in the process of navigating the approvals for a recently published paper on coping, 3 during the peer-review process another one of the authors was astonished to read some of the comments from reviewers about the prescriptions advanced in the manuscript for people facing discrimination. One particularly striking comment came in response to the following assertion in the paper that “How we define ‘functional coping’ depends on if the goal is to stop the distress caused by racist acts or to stop racism from occurring,”( 3 ,p. forthcoming) to which the reviewer wrote, “It is not possible for Black individuals to stop racism from occurring so this definition makes no sense.” Stopping racism is in fact possible and imperative (e.g., 4 ), and this is best done by addressing both systemic and individual causes. On the systemic side, for example, this can involve exposing and dismantling unjust policies, and on the individual level it can involve teaching victims new ways to respond and engage, including strengthening the social fabric of community, and helping to build empathy in perpetrators when such actions feel safe and the person well-resourced to engage.…”