Journal of African American Studies最新文献

The nexus between environmental racism and racial capitalism has been well documented. However, the government is often blamed for the perpetuation of some forms of environmental racism. Nonetheless, blaming the government for environmental racism without documenting some actions and policy implementation by the government to mitigate or prevent the re-occurrence of environmental racism tends to be a one-sided view. Consequently, this study examines how the American government plays some roles in the occurrence of environmental racism, that is, the Flint Water Crisis (FWC) in Michigan. Racial capitalism theory is used as a theoretical lens in this study. Racial capitalism, historical residential housing policies, anti-blackness or devaluation of Black bodies, the appointment of Emergency Financial Managers, environmental racism, neoliberalism, laissez-faire, and color-blind racism were the mechanisms driving the occurrence of the FWC. The different actions and policies that were taken by the American government to mitigate or prevent the re-emergence of FWC were also documented. Although, these actions were taken after the occurrence of the FWC. The materials-based method (secondary data) was not only adopted to provide answers to the research question that this study answered but was also used to explain the global dynamic and operation of racial capitalism.

This conceptual paper delves into the intricate landscape of restorative justice within African American communities. In addition to addressing immediate conflicts, the paper sheds light on the broader context of historical and systemic injustices that have significantly impacted African Americans and their communities. By examining various restorative justice modalities, the paper seeks to clarify their effectiveness in promoting accountability, driving social transformation, reshaping power dynamics, and advancing equity and justice within the African American community. Through this inquiry, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of how restorative justice practices can effectively confront longstanding grievances and facilitate comprehensive community healing and empowerment.

The goal of this work was to examine the relationship between vicarious exposures to major discrimination through the adverse experiences of spouses and mental health among middle-aged and older Black adults. The present study used data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study to investigate the relationship between spousal discrimination and depressive and anxiety symptoms among a subsample of Black adults aged 50 years and older (n = 219). Findings revealed that vicarious exposures to major discrimination through spouses’ experiences were linked with increased levels of symptoms of both depression and anxiety, even after accounting for exposure to additional psychosocial stressors. Our findings suggest that vicarious, in addition to personal, exposures to discrimination over the life span shape the well-being and mental health of Black adults. This work provides novel insights for health equity research and extends the body of work on racism as a social determinant of health.

The origin of the criminalization of African Americans is often considered to be the period after the Civil War with the passage of a series of repressive laws called the Black Codes. However, I argue that the progenitor of this criminalization originated over 80 years earlier during the Founding Era, particularly following the British royal governor of Virginia’s proclamation in 1775 that promised to free all enslaved people who fought on the side of the British. The Founders feared any actions from the Black population to obtain their freedom and equal rights. Therefore, the Founders criminalized all aspects of their lives which was discussed at federal and state constitutional conventions, codified in the United States Constitution and confirmed at the First Congress of the United States. This was the catalyst for the laws and policies that negatively influence the present-day criminal justice system that disproportionately impacts African Americans.

The story of Lieutenant Leon Gilbert—a Black United States Army officer court-martialed during the Korean War—challenged the United States’ self-declared postwar mission to free oppressed peoples across the world, while continuing to subjugate African Americans at home. Although many critics judged Gilbert’s refusal to return to battle as an act of cowardice, others viewed him as a victim, and even a hero. The Gilbert case revealed that although African Americans were ostensibly making progress in the newly desegregated United States military, the fight for racial justice continued to be impeded by white Americans’ perceptions of Black inadequacy. Amidst a war purportedly being fought for principles of democracy and freedom, Gilbert’s court martial highlighted the connection between American racism and United States foreign policy, as Black military personnel became scapegoats for their nation’s military failures. The prosecution and persecution of Gilbert thus exposed the tension between American rhetoric and American racism.

Mindfulness training has shown to improve well-being in student populations. Yet, the benefits for Black students have not been adequately explored. This study investigated the effects of a brief mindfulness program on mood, mindfulness, cognition, and physiological indicators of stress in a small cohort of Black undergraduate women. Participants took part in a 4-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR). Before and after the program, participants were assessed with the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills, Profile of Mood States, Perceived Stress Scale, Corsi block tapping test, N-back task, and Stroop Color and Word test. Blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, salivary cortisol, and C-reactive protein were also measured. Significant improvements were observed in mindfulness skills, working memory, and cognitive processing. Reductions in tension-anxiety, fatigue, confusion, total overall mood disturbance, and arterial stiffness were also found. All other measures remained unchanged. This is the first study to demonstrate that MBSR training improves psychological, cognitive, and cardiovascular factors associated with stress in college-aged Black women. Limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.