[1IDVET]

PTSD (Post Traumatic Slavery Disorder)

A group of African American psychologists have defined a new disorder which they call 'post traumatic slavery disorder.' They say when African Americans have struggles in society today, it's because of slavery.

When Omar Reid sees pictures from the days of slavery, he thinks about his great grandparents held in bondage on a plantation in Reidsville, North Carolina. "It was a lot of depression and sadness because you couldn't control your life."

Omar is a clinical psychologist who believes that depression has been passed down through the generations. He and two friends who are licensed social workers, Sekou Mims and Larry Higginbottom, have coined a term for it: post traumatic slavery disorder.

"It's the effects of slavery, it's the origin of some behaviors we see today."

They believe the way their ancestors were treated explains the problems they see among some people in the African American community today, like the large number of single mothers. "The breeding process still affects us today. For example, there were men who were bucks who made children, and that insensitivity, that numbness, still carries on today. That's why in most cities today black men have child after child because there's no emotional connection."

They say all the hard work on the plantation is reflected in the work ethic of some people today. "You worked for no gain. People say blacks don't want to work hard; well, when we worked hard it meant early death."

And they say some African Americans fail to embrace education because of treatment in the slave days. "If you knew how to read or spoke a language they would kill you, because in order to control someone you have to keep them ignorant."

And that, they believe, can lead to a life of crime. "I can't make it through education because I know I don't have the educational attainment or the academic stuff need for higher education, but I can sell drugs, pimp a woman I can go steal."

What a freekin slap in the face to all our vets that suffer from the "REAL" PTSD.
Which I have and still do experience from time to time.
This really sucks!