The curious case of ‘ace’
Originally published 2/27/19 + Denise Powell | Health
As we make our way into 2019, we have the opportunity to reflect on the intersectionality of social injustice, healthcare, and being melanated.
The mental and physical distress experienced by African-Americans in the United States of America extends into the realm of mental health and is multi-generational, specifically called Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). ACE refers to trauma experienced in one generation of a family that may impact their descendants’ health as well. When this is encountered in childhood, it may impact future family members as well.
Dr. Hilliard Lackey, a Professor of Urban Higher Education for the Jackson State University (JSU) Executive Ph.D. Program, reflects on how ACEs have possibly impacted him as an African-American male growing up in the Southern United States.
He tells Melanin Meetups, “I was a childhood victim of self-hate albeit unbeknownst. As a young boy growing up in the Emmett Till era of the Mississippi Delta, I was early on traumatized by being colored and male.”
Dr. Lackey utilized this adversity as a teaching moment.
Dr. Lackey now hosts a program called the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, meant to provide mentorship and support to Jackson, Mississippi youth. He shares, “It took me well into adulthood during the Civil Rights Movement to overcome my color inferiority and proclaim, ‘I’m Black and I’m Proud.’” As Melanin Meetups members, we can also use our own personal experiences to diminish the impact ACEs have on our community.
Recognizing and combating the racial injustice that impacts our youngest members of society is important to the wellbeing of our communities. Regardless of our professional status, we live in a time when children of color can be and often are victimized by being unfairly targeted by police brutality and immigration laws. The question remains: What can we do to create the safest and most nurturing environments for our youth?
Dr. Jacqueline Douge, pediatrician, child advocate, author, and mother has her own thoughts on this.
Dr. Douge believes the answer begins with what it means to be Black, a conversation she has had with her own two sons -
“We often talk about race, racism, and how they see themselves as Black, young men. The conversations can be tough, like after a police shooting of a Black person or opinions about the type of music they’re listening to.”
As a pediatrician, Dr. Douge uses her platform to tackle diagnoses like ACEs and other racially disenfranchising health disparities. “From a public health perspective, there is a direct link between ACEs and social determinants of health. Examples of my role [in fighting ACE] includes receiving a grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to work with local Head Start to address toxic stress and work within school-based wellness centers,” she explains.
To continue this work and help other parents of color, Dr. Douge launched a new podcast on January 21, 2019 called “What is Black?”. Her motivation for starting this stems from her dual role as a mother and physician. She tells Melanin Meetups, “Since starting the podcast, I’ve become more aware that parents want a place to have conversations about race, racism, and opportunities to learn about resources to help have the conversations.”
By educating ourselves about ACEs through research and candid conversations about health disparities, we at Melanin Meetups can continue rewrite the narrative, building on the foundation of amazing Black leaders like Dr. Lackey and Dr. Douge!
Learn more about Dr. Douge’s podcast, “What is Black?” and we’ll see you at our next meetup.