“Since the capture and transport of the first African slaves, those brought to the shores had to deal with systematic efforts to destroy the bonds of relationships that held them together, as well as continuing efforts to have them believe themselves to be less than human. The maintenance of healthy and secure relationships is the most important values within the African culture. So what do you think would happen if those relationships were destroyed and never allowed to fully take root again?

If you were going to devise a uniquely cruel system of punishment, you could never have devised something more devastating and insidious than American chattel slavery because it absolutely, categorically destroyed existing relationships and undermined a people’s ability to form healthy new ones.

Perhaps, the greatest impact though, were the daily efforts of the slave owners and others in authority to break the slaves’ will. Free will is at the core of being human…And God forbid you attempt to be educated or think for yourself.” -From, “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome” By: Dr. Joy Leary