The history of formerly enslaved black people in the United States and their descendants have a unique place in the United States. The trauma of slavery, its social stratifications, and the rationalizations for its existence have been perpetrated by other social assaults such as Jim Crow, domestic terrorism through organizations such as the Klu Klux Klan, and discriminatory housing policies from the federal government. In understanding the entrenched, pervasive nature of these issues, it is imperative to draw upon the contributions of historians and sociologists.

The ongoing impact of these events contributes to present-day social determinants of mental health for African-Americans such as black disproportionate exposure to poor academic opportunities, families, and communities disrupted by mass incarceration, exposure to violent communities, and the stressors of incessant micro and macro-aggressions. Additionally, the rationale for the justification of slavery, the inferiority of blacks, is one that remains prevalent in American messaging, whether it be through the educational system, from politicians or through media representations. In this presentation, a structural competency approach will be applied to explore the ongoing impacts of slavery and institutional racism, the ways in which these issues can impact patients and clinicians, and the medical and mental health professional's role and responsibility in not only being aware of but combatting these issues.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the historical and present-day context of structural racism and its role in the social determinants of health.
2. Describe the implications of population mental health including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
3. Identify actions that can be taken by public servants to identify and address the mental health ramifications of structural racism.