Tired of being tired: Black college students' experiences of racial battle fatigue from highly publicized anti-Black violence.

Abstract

The highly publicized murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery in 2020 sparked public outrage and widespread discussion around anti-Black violence. While some studies have examined the effects of anti-Black violence exposure on mental health outcomes, there is a paucity of research that explores how these racially charged events contribute to cumulative stress and "weathering" for Black people, particularly. Informed by racial battle fatigue theory, this in-depth qualitative study explored the lived experiences of 30 Black male and female undergraduate college students (aged 18-28) exposed to highly publicized acts of anti-Black violence. Thematic analysis revealed four predominant themes: (a) witnessing an endless cycle of anti-Black violence, (b) experiencing cumulative and prolonged psychosocial effects, (c) grieving while Black, and (d) navigating the tension between activism and burnout. Findings expose the cyclical and inescapable nature of anti-Black violence, including the toll of these events on the lives of Black college students. Research, practice, and policy implications underscore the need for culturally relevant interventions to support resilience among Black people in the aftermath of anti-Black violence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).