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Dr Aileen Alleyne is a UKCP-registered psychodynamic psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, lecturer, and organisational consultant on race and cultural diversity with over thirty years’ experience. The book is a profound and contemplative examination of the legacy of 400 years of slavery on the black community and serves as an instrument to unravel the shadows that conceal the inescapable nature of racism towards the black community whilst illuminating the path towards recovery through the cultivation of self-reflection, self-regulation, compassion, empathy, transcendence, and transformation.
Dr Alleyne explores the collective trauma from the historical events of slavery along with relevant current social affairs such as the global impact of the brutal killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement which resulted in some level of awakening of the collective unconscious. Throughout the book, Dr Alleyne evolves psychoanalytical theories to expand into the domain of racism, providing depth and significance to the narratives of the black community, offering meaning to their experience. The practical aspects of the book invite the reader to comprehend the effects of slavery on a profound, visceral level. The inclusion of case studies offers a roadmap for exploring the poignant questions posed in her doctoral research: “do black people hurt differently? If they do, how is that hurt manifested and why is it different?” (p. 128).
The case studies reveal the distressing and painful consequences resulting from the historical and contemporary repercussions of racism. The evocative poetry encourages readers to delve into the lived experience of racism. Thought-provoking self-reflective questioning inspires readers with cultivating intercultural awareness and compassion.
The book begins by establishing a clear foundation of racial terminology by delving into the historical, social, and cultural context that shape race terminology providing the reader with a clear under