Black people in the United States have dealt with racism manifested in one form or another for as long as most can remember.
Incidents run the gamut from daily microaggressions from whites to deaths of Black people at the hands of police and everything in between. Many find themselves feeling hopeless or, more frequently, wondering how to cope while constantly under attack. Black people must do what is necessary to take care of themselves, especially when it comes to their mental health. So, how do Black people even begin to take on this arduous task, let alone succeed at accomplishing it?
Well-known psychologist Rheeda Walker – recipient of numerous awards and honors – has the answers.
Born in Savannah, Georgia, Walker is one of six children raised by two loving, hard-working parents. As a first-generation college student who grew up in a predominantly Black neighborhood, she pinpointed a disconnect while pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia.
"I realized as a psychology major that the textbook didn't reflect my community and my everyday experience," says Walker. "The culture, way of communicating and expectations about health and well-being didn't seem to speak to my personal life as a Black girl who'd grown up in the '70s and '80s." As a result, she was motivated to pursue advanced degrees in clinical
Continued on page 8
An authority on issues affecting Black people, Rheeda Walker, says a colleague, "understands the importance of leveraging the strengths of Black culture to cope with both general and race-related stressors."
Feature/
A lack of understanding breeds confusion and conflict.
First published in Black Mental Health Today, Fall 2023 (Vol. 9, Anniversary Issue).