Racial battle fatigue is a term coined by professor William A. Smith that refers to the cognitive, emotional and physiological effects of being a person of color in environments that are both implicitly and explicitly
racist.
Basically, it is the ways that
racism has a negative effect on the psychology and physiology of people of color.
Physiological symptoms of
RBF: tension headaches, backaches, elevated heartbeat, rapid breathing in anticipation of conflict, upset stomach, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, ulcers, elevated blood pressure. Psychological symptoms of RBF: constant anxiety and worrying, inability to
sleep,
sleep broken by haunting, conflict-specific dreams, intrusive thoughts and images, loss of self-confidence.
I can't go to that meeting with them
White folks today, I'm struggling with Racial Battle Fatigue
We have to protect our students from Racial Battle Fatigue by connecting them with people who
will love and support them
