A Psychoanalytic Overview of Racism in America

Jun 24, 2024

This podcast delves into the roots of racism in America from a psychoanalytic perspective, discussing defense mechanisms and the importance of white people listening to the Black experience. It explores projective identification in perpetuating racism and emphasizes the need for unity and understanding in combating inequality. The discussions also touch on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s relevance today and the role of psychoanalysts in addressing historical oppression.

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Intro

00:00 • 5min

Exploring Racism from a Psychoanalytic Perspective in a Podcast Series

05:29 • 4min

Challenges Faced by Marginalized Communities and Calls for Unity

09:53 • 18min

Exploring Projective Identification and the Cycle of Racism in America

27:55 • 3min

Exploring Chaos and Community Dynamics in Current Events and History

31:20 • 2min

Understanding Privilege and Empathy in America

33:41 • 12min

The first podcast in this series was inspired by a documentary film made in 2014 called “Black Analysts Speak” as well as some of the findings in the Holmes Commission on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis published in 2023. It also considered the reasons why racism has persisted so long in America including perspectives from a psychoanalytic vantage point. Mechanism of defense, particularly projective identification was discussed as one specific reason why change has been slow. The host and co-host also talked about the some of the reasons why it is important for white people to listen to the Black experience. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s book, Where do we go from here, Chaos or Community was also considered because of its relevance today.

Dr. Karyne E. Messina is a psychologist and child, adolescent and adult psychoanalyst. In addition to maintaining a full-time private practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland, she is on the medical staff of Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland which is part of Johns Hopkins Medicine. She is a podcast host for the New Books Network and chair of the Department of Psychoanalytic Education’s (DPE) Scholarship and Writing section which is part of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA). She is a member of the AI Council of APsA (CAI). She has also written and edited six books. Her topics focus on applying psychoanalytic ideas to real-world issues we all face in our complex world.

Dr. Felecia Powell-Williams is a child and adolescent supervising psychoanalyst at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston, Texas, where she also holds the position of President of Board of Directors. Dr. Felecia Powell-Williams is also a faculty member in the Child and Adult Training Programs. In addition, she provides clinical supervision for the State of Texas licensing board, as well as supervision as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor with the Association for Play Therapy. She is also the chair of the Department of Psychoanalytic Education’s (DPE) Diversity section which is part of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA).

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