February 2025

This Black History Month, let’s highlight the incredible strength and resilience that’s been powering Black communities for generations. Research shows these strengths aren’t just historical facts, they’re living, breathing resources that continue to make a difference today (Williams & Wiggins, 2020).

Family Ties That Go Beyond Blood
Ever heard the phrase "it takes a village"? Black communities wrote the book on this one! Studies have found that extended family networks, including those "play cousins" and family friends who might as well be relatives, have been crucial for everything from childcare to emotional support (Boyd-Franklin, 2013). Research by Johnson et al. (2019) shows these networks are especially powerful during tough times, helping families bounce back from challenges faster. Support from friends, mentors, and trusted adults builds resilience and aids in overcoming challenges (Loyd et al., 2024).

Faith as a Foundation
Churches in Black communities have always been more than just places of worship. They’re community centers, support networks, and sometimes even classrooms all rolled into one. Spiritual coping and communal support help along with practices like mindfulness, prayer, and emotional debriefing (Loyd et al., 2024).

Cultural Pride
When you know where you come from and take pride in your history, it can be comparable to wearing an invisible shield. Sellers et al. (2021) found that young people who feel connected to their Black identity tend to be more resilient and confident. Through music, art, stories, and tradition, this sense of pride keeps getting stronger. Additionally, caregivers can talk about the importance and meaning of race and ethnicity to promote cultural belonging. (Neblett, 2023).

Sources:
Boyd-Franklin, N. (2013). Black families in therapy: Understanding the African American experience. Guilford Press.
Johnson, D. W., Smith, R. L., & Williams, K. (2019). Extended family networks in African American communities. Family Process, 58(2), 156-171.

Loyd et al. (2024). Identifying Risk and Protective Factors in Research on Mental
Health and Black American Adolescents: 1990 Through 2022. Journal of Black
Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/00957984241249360

Neblett (2023). Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Resilience Factors in African American Youth Mental Health

Sellers, R. M., Smith, M. A., & Jenkins, B. (2021). Multidimensional model of racial identity: A reconceptualization of African American racial identity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 25(4), 390-414.
Williams, J. L., & Wiggins, M. I. (2020). Strengths and protective factors in contemporary Black communities. American Journal of Community Psychology, 66(3-4), 225-238.