Breaking The Chains Of Psychological Slavery Summary

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Over 300 years of physical and psychological abuse has created a dilemma impacting African American communities throughout America. In Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery, Dr Na’im Akbar, diagnoses that “African Americans In America show symptoms of Post- traumatic stress syndrome due to inhumane conditions their ancestors have faced”. Although, Dr. Akbar, believes that being able to identify and accept a multitude of factors that contribute to what he calls “ghost of the plantation”, African Americans can began their process of internal healing.

Frederick Douglass, a prominent American abolitionist, describes the daily working conditions during slavery; “From twelve o’clock (mid-day) till dark, the human cattle are in Motion, …show more content…

Slavery was a systematic process to dehumanize and create a sense of inferiority towards their caucasian counterparts. Inferiority has preserved itself over the course of generations prevalent in African American children today. During slavery, white slave masters enforced a combination of insults to develop a sense of helplessness within their slaves. This perseverance of helplessness developed low self esteem, inferiority and has influenced a high rate of black on black homicides. Black Americans continue to devalue themselves and it has shown through our youth. Our sense of inferiority also symbolizes the lack of positive leadership within our communities. Slave masters killed any African who exemplified leadership. Unleashing fear of any sort of leadership within the slave community. Most separated themselves from individuals who showed qualities of strong leadership. Those who possessed some sort of leadership were seen as snitches due to their loyalty to their masters. Civil rights leaders leaders such as, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, had been classified as a troublemaker in the beginning of his civil rights campaign. Rejection of leadership within our community is a direct correlation to the fear of any efforts that conflicts white …show more content…

Separated by complexion and location forced labor. Lighter African slaves and house workers were believed to better than their darker and field working africans. “Knowing that the majority could not be trusted, he tried to recruit a few who would be loyal to him and take his side against the others.” Disunity among African Americans is a huge contributory to the lack of civil rights success in America, unity amongst our people will create a greater power against our common enemies. Evidently, to become closer to each other we will have to avoid repeating mistakes and focus on becoming united

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