Generational Trauma

By Megan B. Cahanin

General Context

Generational trauma refers to the long-lasting psychological effects transferred from one generation to subsequent generations. A generation typically spans 30 years or “the interval of time between the birth of the parents and that of their children” (American Psychological Association). Generational trauma can refer to psychological effects and behaviors that emerge within specific family groups or a collective generation within society.

Generational trauma encompasses the overall experiences of an entire generational group within a society. For example, the collective experiences of adult-aged Americans living during World War II had significantly different life experiences than their children. The effects of these experiences can be positive or negative, however the negative effects are closely studied in most scientific fields of inquiry, including, but not limited to psychology, sociology, psychiatry, anthropology, and biology. For example, young children in major cities during World War II who experienced air raid drills or bombings may have developed coping strategies to manage the terror of war, and these strategies may develop into adulthood.

Connection to Novel

While the term “generational trauma” does not appear in Ernest J. Gaines’ Of Love and Dust, the novel features instances where behavioral patterns associated with generational trauma manifest in characters. The enslavement of Africans in America inflicted significant psychological and physical trauma on those forced into slavery. The violence inflicted onto African Americans post-emancipation merely compounded the trauma of slavery. Entire communities were often brutally attacked or massacred by white populations because of one black person’s actions. The effects of such trauma are exhibited in Gaines’ characters. For instance, Jim and community members anticipate a tragic and horrific end, not only for Marcus, and they are perceptive to every ripple of disturbance that may induce violence towards the entire community. As Jim is rushing to tell Marcus goodbye, he notices the stillness of the quarter and notes the absence of people sitting on the porches. This is an example of how generational trauma appears in Of Love and Dust, since the community is waiting with bated breath for the violent fallout of Marcus’ actions onto the community at large. The trauma of slavery within the community influences their view of Marcus’ actions as “unthinkable or scandalous” (Bourdieu 78) due to the historical violence inflicted on past generations.