Two weeks ago, I finished reading Overlooked: Counselor Insights for the Unspoken Issues in Black American Life by Dr. LaVerne Collins. Dr. Collins is a therapist, author, and trainer who has delivered Empowered Service presentations for Chestnut Health Systems on the topics of Historical and Intergenerational Trauma, Disenfranchised Grief, and Color-Conscious Clinical Relationships. Dr. Collins is also currently teaching a group of Chestnut employees how to design and deliver their own trainings on health equity and inclusion topics.
For those interested in cultivating cultural humility in their work with Black and African American clients and patients, Overlooked is a valuable resource. The book provides an accessible overview of the ways that Black Americans experience the behavioral health care system. It discusses patterns of misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis and provides context and understanding about barriers to treatment that exist.
The book also draws attention to some distinctive strengths of the Black community and Black culture that are overlooked by many health care workers. In 1972, Robert Hill first drew researchers’ attention to many of these assets in his book, The Strengths of Black Families. Hill observed:
That family life was highly valued in Black communities and that definitions of family included extended kin networks.
- Strong work orientation in Black communities in which self-help was prized.
- Roles were flexible within families, making for more equitable decision making and adaptability in the face of change.
- A culture of aspiration and determination.
- Religion and spirituality served as an important resource for many Black individuals and families.
In 2022, a study published by Child Trends found these qualities—extended kin and social networks, religiosity and spirituality, role flexibility, and optimism—continue to be prevalent in African American culture. For those working in health care, community education, and research, this study and Dr. Collins’s book provide vital reminders that we do a disservice to others when we fail to notice strengths and resources as we are doing the important work of equity. As one of my coworkers said to me just the other day, equity work should also be about celebration.
Juneteenth provides a wonderful opportunity to think about what we may have overlooked and to repair that oversight. The holiday marks a moment when a promise was fulfilled, and it shows us the way that historical mythmaking can overlook significant moments and traditions. Many of us learned early on that the institution of slavery ended in the United States when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. But despite that executive order, it would be some time before the practice of slavery truly ended. The reality was that within areas that remained under Confederate control, slavery continued. It would be two years later, on June 19, 1865, that the Union Army reached Galveston, Texas, finally bringing news of freedom to the westernmost Confederate state. One year later, Black Texans celebrated the first Juneteenth or Freedom Day in recognition of this event. Juneteenth is sometimes called a second Independence Day, because it commemorates the extension of those principles of liberty and independence to formerly enslaved Americans.
Juneteenth continued to be recognized by many African American families and communities for 155 years. But this tradition was largely overlooked by the many Americans who remained unfamiliar with the celebration until it was declared a federal holiday. That decision has given all of us the opportunity to learn and to celebrate the strength of African American communities.