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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The Lasting Impact Of Race On The Identity And Experiences Of Black Americans

By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium

Race has been central to the identity of Black Americans since 1619, shaping how they connect with each other and the world. More than any other racial group, Black Americans and melanated peoples globally have been categorized by race, an identity that influences daily life, shared experiences, and a collective sense of belonging.

According to clinical psychologist Dr. Ben Johnson, identity plays a crucial role in how people see and define themselves.

“There are two kinds of identity—that’s how you are identified and how you identify yourself. And it basically has some very simple components,” Johnson said. “These are the components that both the people in the outer culture and the inner culture struggle with. The first part of identity is to define you—who are you? The second one is to describe you, and the third one is to categorize you.”

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Johnson explained that in 1619, Black people in America were classified primarily by outward appearance, regardless of their diverse backgrounds. Though they shared similar physical characteristics, they did not initially identify, describe, or categorize themselves in the same way. Over time, the experience of slavery forced new social distinctions, such as the division between house slaves and field slaves, which were accompanied by different treatments and perceptions.

“For example, how important this categorization thing was in the slave experience, we had house Negroes and the ones in the field, and they were treated differently and described differently,” Johnson said. “Because we use those terms, we defined them differently, and a lot of Black people still practice that even to this day. It was never properly addressed as we merged into this larger Black culture. Then white society started to set our standards for us, and people have had a hard time trying to define themselves within that larger culture.”

A significant share of African Americans say that when adversity or struggle and tragedy happens to Black people around the world, across the nation or in their local communities, it affects their own lives, underlining a sense of connectedness.

Black Americans say this even as they come from an array of backgrounds and have diverse experiences. According to a PEW research study, “No matter where they are from, who they are, their economic circumstances or educational backgrounds, significant majorities of Black Americans say being Black is extremely or very important to how they think about themselves, with about three-quarters (76%) overall saying so.”

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Experts note that shared trauma can foster a strong sense of connection among those who experience it. While chattel slavery and military warfare are vastly different, both introduce extreme stressors that can forge lasting bonds. Within the Black community, generational connections are reinforced through family and cultural traditions. The psychological effects of historical oppression have manifested in conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic slave syndrome (PTSS), which continue to shape the experiences of Black individuals today.

“Our history as a people and the way that we have been treated based on race throughout the course of this country’s history has not only been unifying but has also contributed to some of the negative health outcomes we experience today,” said Michelle Andrasik, a staff scientist and director of the Social Behavioral Science and Community Engagement unit at the HIV Vaccine Trials Network for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. “I do research in social and structural factors that place people at disproportionate risk, and systemic racism is certainly one of the factors.”

One of the strongest symbols of Black identity and connectivity is the unspoken acknowledgment that Black people exchange in everyday life. When two Black men pass each other in a space where they are the minority, a simple nod or a “What’s up?” serves as an unspoken recognition. This subliminal messaging — “I see you,” “I recognize you,” and in many cases, “I respect you”—stems from a historical need to be acknowledged, dating back to the slave experience, where Black people were often denied their humanity.

“I’ve seen this evolve over time. In the ‘60s and early ‘70s, there was a lot of mutual identity among Black people,” Johnson said. “From James Brown’s ‘Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud’ to the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement today, you see Black people acknowledging each other, whether it’s with a nod, a fist bump, or another sign of recognition. What people don’t realize is that recognition is one of the first places where disrespect can occur.”

Andrasik echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how shared experiences create a deep sense of understanding, particularly in spaces where Black representation is limited.

“In my profession, I’m often the only Black person and most often the only Black woman in many rooms. So when there’s another Black woman there, I know that she has a lot of insight into what my experience has been,” she said. “There’s just this sense of knowingness. When I see other Black women on the street and we smile at each other, there’s that understanding that we share a common experience.”

Black adults who say their racial identity is important to their sense of self are more likely to feel connected to other Black people and to believe that events impacting Black communities—whether in the U.S. or globally—affect their own lives. According to Andrasik, Black people have historically needed to rely on each other not only to thrive but also to survive.

“Our survivability globally—dealing with racism, oppression, and adversities unique to Africa and its descendants—has forged us in the fire of struggle, strengthening our resolve,” Andrasik said. “Regardless of how messy our house can be at times, that struggle has also forged unity.”

She believes that Black resilience, despite systemic challenges, is a testament to the community’s strength.

“I think that we’ve needed each other not only to thrive as Black people but to survive. And even in the face of overt and covert racism, we have still found ways to thrive,” she said. “We certainly have disparities and issues to address in our community, but there is so much to be proud of. Given our history, the fact that we have made it is remarkable.”

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