How Did Slavery Influence African American Psychology

Slaves were punished and mistreated for work that wasn’t accomplished or completed as fast as the slave owners expected. There were many ways that slaves were punished and mistreated. For pleasure, white slave owners and other white men would rape enslaved black women and their daughters. Sometimes slaveholders and their slaveholder’s wives would even perform sexual acts and abuse to enslaved black men and their sons as well. They had instruments like thumbscrews, cotton screws, even metal and wood neck collars with spikes on them. For days, weeks, sometimes for months. They also placed heavy metal masks on their faces. They utilized all of these tools that tortured slaves that didn’t fulfill the slave owner’s wishes or demands or if they were …show more content…
Indeed, slavery was a horrible system. However, the world would have been very different if it did not occur. Not only the world would be different, but I am not certain if today’s Black community would exist. Because slavery did occur it has a major impact on Black society. History has shaped ways of thinking, doing, and explains why. Slavery has influenced the evolution of African American psychology (McLeod, 2008). Black Psychology is the origin and knowledge of the social universe from an African American viewpoint. This psychology derives from universal law and theoretical perspectives. It also comes from the psychology of the African people, their beliefs, self-concept, and behavior. Self-concept and identity is studied more than any topic in African American psychology. I bring up this information to prove a point. Examples of how our ancestors have influenced our lives is evident in our music, the foods we eat, in relationships, religion, and in many other items in Black culture. The music derives from the drum patterns and musical instruments used by our ancestors. The style of dancing is in influenced by African culture. The series show African Americans preparing food and dancing, which demonstrates culture. Black families usually have a strong bond. We also tend to treat our fictive kin like family and give titles as we do within our immediate family. This is so, due to the bonds of African slaves. When Blacks were separated from their families, and sold to plantations, they made close relationships with those that were near. These relationships helped Blacks cope with the harshness of slavery and was necessary for survival. Today it is no different. African Americans lean on each other to deal with certain events of life. We pray, eat, celebrate, and cry together. We can connect with other Blacks that we’ve never