Speaking the Unspoken: Understanding Internalized Racial Oppression from the Perspective of Black Women Psychotherapists

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on internalized racial oppression, a less understood yet detrimental aspect of racism. This article is based on a qualitative grounded theory study that explored how Black women psychotherapists understand the phenomenon. Literature and findings reveal that there is no existing shared understanding of how Black women experience IRO. Findings support how systemic racism upholds IRO and how IRO is intersectional. I use sociopolitical concepts and psychological object relations to discuss the findings as understood by Black women. In this, colorism, hair texturism, double consciousness were unexpected but important findings. Implications and future directions are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Black women
• psychotherapy
• internalized racism
• liberation
• racial trauma

Author Note

Author affiliation has been updated to Fairfield University, School of Education and Human Development. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to LaTasha Smith, Phd, Fairfield University, School of Education and Human Development 1073 N. Benson Rd, Fairfield, CT 06824,

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

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Notes on contributors

LaTasha L. Smith

Dr. LaTasha Smith is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. As a practitioner-scholar, Dr. Smith’s teaching and research is deeply informed by her clinical practice where she prioritizes the integration of clinical, socio-cultural and anti-racism perspectives. Dr. Smith’s maintains a private practice in CT and NY.