8. Racial trauma

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What is racial trauma?

Racial trauma, or race-based stress, happens when people experience or witness racial discrimination. This can include being hurt, treated unfairly, or humiliated because of race, feeling ashamed or unsafe due to discrimination, and witnessing racism against others — especially in People of Colour and Indigenous communities (POCI).^{45 46 47}

Race vs. ethnicity

• Race is a social category based on physical traits like skin colour. It is influenced by social and historical factors.
• Ethnicity refers to shared cultural traits among people with similar backgrounds. It includes things like language, food, music, clothes, values, and beliefs.⁴⁸

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Challenges faced by racialized communities 

Limited emergency preparation and evacuation

During an emergency, racialized communities are at a higher risk of facing problems, not only at the start but during and afterwards. These challenges include:⁴⁹

• Language barriers that limit access to information.
• Mistrust in public safety services, leading to lower participation in preparedness programs.
• Cultural differences that affect evacuation behaviours.

For example, studies show that Spanish-speaking Hispanic communities in the U.S. are less likely to have an evacuation plan than white communities.⁵⁰

Increased racism and stigma 

Global health emergencies can lead to racial scapegoating — when racialized groups are unfairly blamed for disease outbreaks.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation led to increased discrimination against Asian communities, contributing to:

• Higher levels of fear, stress, and anxiety
• Social exclusion and increased violence^{51 52}

Immigration status and systemic barriers 

Some racialized individuals — especially immigrants — may be afraid to seek help during disasters because of:

• Fear of deportation
• Lack of legal documentation
• Concerns about discrimination from public safety or health workers⁵³

Health care inequities

Racialized groups face barriers to health care, including:

• Mistrust in the system due to past discrimination.
• Limited access to culturally competent providers.
• Lack of transportation, money, or required documents.

These factors contribute to health disparities and lower-quality care.

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Racial inequalities in emergencies

Systemic inequities increase the impact of disasters on racialized communities. Here are a few examples:

• During Hurricane Katrina (2005), low-income Black communities faced greater barriers to evacuation, including poor access to public transportation and delayed emergency responses.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, in Toronto and Ottawa, Black Canadians and other racialized groups were infected at rates 1.5 to 5 times higher than non-racialized Canadians.⁵⁴

These cases highlight how systemic racism worsens disaster outcomes for marginalized groups.

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Signs of racial trauma

Racial trauma can show up in different ways for different people. It can affect mental, physical, and social well-being.

Types of harm	Effects of racial trauma
Physical health	Increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome Headaches, body pain, and heart palpitations Trouble sleeping and weakened immune system, leading to higher risks of type 2 diabetes and asthma55 56 57 58 59 60
Mental health	Higher rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and low self-esteem Increased risk of substance abuse and suicidal thoughts or actions47
Social and economic impact	Relationship difficulties, including struggles in romantic and family relationships Challenges in finding and keeping a job, leading to financial instability47

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