In Painter’s essay in “Soul Murder and Slavery”, she examines the psychological impact of the institution that had both black and white people. She looked at the results of slavery-produced trauma on children especially on the culture that was created in a world that was based on domination and ownership. Painter used the phrase "soul murder" to illustrate the damage convicted on black and white families through violent legacies of slavery. The description of "soul murder" included depression, anger, and low self-esteem, and its ultimate result is the loss of identity. There Painter called for students of slavery to observe the literature on child and sexual abuse from the current world and apply the lessons gained from their own historical
