Racism's Multigenerational Toll on a Black Family

A personal account of the psychological impact of systemic racism across generations

Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:56am

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A cinematic painting of a lone figure sitting on a park bench, their face obscured in shadow, surrounded by warm sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of solitude and introspection.A solitary figure in a public park reflects the isolation and psychological burden faced by those grappling with the trauma of systemic racism.Kinston Today

The author, born in the segregated American South in 1942, reflects on the devastating effects of racism on his family, particularly his sister Sherrill. Sherrill's experiences attending predominantly white schools and institutions as a young Black woman led to the onset of mental illness, which went untreated due to lack of resources and understanding in the community. The author explores how the trauma of racism, combined with poverty and abuse, can break the mind, using his sister's tragic story as an example of the multigenerational psychological toll of systemic oppression.

Why it matters

This personal account sheds light on the insidious and long-lasting psychological impacts of racism, particularly on marginalized communities that lack access to proper mental health resources and support. It highlights how systemic barriers and discrimination can contribute to the development of mental illness, and the importance of addressing the multigenerational trauma inflicted by centuries of racism in America.

The details

The author describes growing up in a segregated housing project in Kinston, North Carolina, where he encountered two local figures, Snap and Preacher, who seemed to be suffering from mental illness but were not provided proper care due to the realities of living in a poor, Black community. He later reflects on his sister Sherrill's experiences attending a predominantly white Catholic boarding school and university, where she faced constant racism and isolation that he believes contributed to the onset of her schizophrenia. Despite efforts by the family to get Sherrill help, she spent years homeless and untreated before finally being committed to a facility and cared for by their mother for the last 40 years of her life.

  • The author was born in the American South in 1942.
  • Sherrill attended St. Joseph's Academy, a predominantly white Catholic boarding school, in the 1960s.
  • Sherrill graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the 1960s.
  • Sherrill was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1973 at the age of 27.
  • Sherrill passed away on April 1, 2020 at the age of 75 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The players

Douglas H. White

The author, who was born in the segregated American South in 1942 and reflects on the psychological impacts of racism on his family, particularly his sister Sherrill.

Sherrill

The author's sister, who experienced mental illness that the author believes was exacerbated by the racism she faced attending predominantly white schools and institutions as a young Black woman.

Snap

A local figure in the author's segregated housing project community who appeared to be suffering from mental illness but was not provided proper care.

Preacher

Another local figure in the author's segregated housing project community who appeared to be suffering from mental illness but was not provided proper care.

Sister Barbara

A Black nun from the author's hometown who invited Sherrill to live with her at St. Joseph's Academy for a time.

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The takeaway

This tragic story highlights the devastating multigenerational impacts of systemic racism, and how the trauma and lack of resources can contribute to the development of mental illness in marginalized communities. It serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address the psychological toll of oppression and provide equitable access to mental health support, particularly for communities of color.