Black America: Psychological Costs of Economic Inequities

Carmaudely L. Galliotte, M.S., BCBA, LABA; Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate at William James College

Source: Carmaudely Galliotte

by Carmaudely L. Galliotte, M.S., BCBA, LABA

Edited by Briana Reid, MA and Natalie Cort, Ph.D.

Research on poverty implies that social class is not a result of a person’s individual shortcomings but rather it is a byproduct of institutional and societal structures that advantage some and not others (Greenbaum, 2019). Due to America's intractable historical and contemporary institutional marginalization and discriminatory practices, Black Americans are at a disproportionate economic disadvantage. In the U.S., 20.8% of Black Americans live in poverty with an estimated median income of $41,361 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018). Overwhelming stress associated with enduring economic disparity may result in significant physical/medical and mental health consequences. However, the links between economic oppression, financial security, and psychological wellness in Black communities are generally not attended to or examined in the mental health field.

In light of these factors, would it be appropriate to consider reparations for Black communities as more than just a civil social gesture aiming to acknowledge the atrocities of racism against Black people? Could reparations advance psychological healing among Black people most harmed by America's history of racial oppression?

As an effort to foster mental health protective factors within Black communities, it is crucial that conversations about racial discrimination, resultant poverty, financial literacy, and reparations continue until tangible changes are achieved. Smith et al. (2018) offered a five-step model called Financial Therapy (e.g., financial literacy, linking clients to resources) as a tool that clinicians could utilize to help individuals, couples, and families to not only cope with the stress of financial hardship but also to empowering their clients with resources and services that can enhance financial knowledge and understanding. Although the authors express reservations about the usefulness of Financial Therapy with clients faced with severe financial hardship, modifications of this tool could likely yield some advantages to clients living in deep poverty (Smith et al., 2018).

At the individual level, it is imperative that clinicians working with people of color, particularly Black clients, be intentional about creating space for conversations about economic disparities. Additionally, clinicians serving Black clients may consider adopting the use of a Financial Genogram (Smith et al., 2018) to help facilitate Black clients’ examination of devastating intergenerational consequences of economic oppression. Conversations about the psychological benefits of financial security should also be expanded to the systemic level. Clinicians committed to social justice and equality should advocate at the systemic level to help close gaps in financial disparities for Black communities. Such influential advocacy, including for reparations, could be integral in mitigating some of the psychological costs of economic inequities experienced by Black clients.

Carmaudely L. Galliotte, M.S., BCBA, LABA is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate at William James College. She is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavioral Analyst with more than a decade of experience providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children with autism spectrum disorders.