Psychological benefits of knowing different types of Black History for Black People in the U.S.

What is it about?

Black history tells more than one story. Through computational linguistic analyses of text-based data, we examine the impact of knowing critical versus celebratory aspects of Black U.S. history on responses to anti-Black racism as well as one's Black identity. Knowing the history of racism helps Black people in the U.S. get on the same page about modern racism, while knowing the history of Black achievement helps develop racial pride and promotes healthy psychological functioning in the face of racism.

Featured Image

Photo by Anthony McKissic on Unsplash

Photo by Anthony McKissic on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our findings generally suggest learning and knowing critical and celebratory Black history is crucial for effectively combating the negative effects of anti-Black racism, particularly for Black people in the United States. We not only extend previous insights by positioning knowledge of past racism as a key ingredient for taking collective action against modern racism but also suggest the benefits of knowing celebratory Black history should not be overlooked. Knowing the history of Black achievement, success, and cultural strength disrupts the narrative that the story of Blackness is only about pain, suffering, and oppression, which may be helpful in mitigating some of the pain that arises when Black people are exposed to anti-Black racism.