Racism-based Trauma Think Tank
Vision: To create a society where emerging adults from marginalized populations are free from racism-based trauma and where diversity and inclusion are celebrated and promoted.
Mission: Our mission is to be a leading think tank that conducts research, advocates for policy change, and provides resources and support to address racism-based trauma experienced by emerging adults from marginalized populations. Through collaboration, education, and empowerment, we strive to bring about healing, justice, and lasting social change.
Goal: Our goal is to generate knowledge and understanding of the impact of racism-based trauma on emerging adults from marginalized populations. By conducting interdisciplinary research, we aim to identify the root causes, manifestations, and consequences of such trauma. We aim to provide evidence-based recommendations and solutions to policymakers, organizations, and communities to prevent and mitigate racism-based trauma among emerging adults. Additionally, we aim to create a platform for dialogue, advocacy, and support by working closely with individuals, community leaders, and stakeholders to develop inclusive initiatives and resources that foster resilience, empowerment, and healing for those affected by racism-based trauma. Through our collaborative efforts, we aspire to create a society where emerging adults from marginalized populations thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their background or ethnicity.
SUMMARY: This study characterizes the profile of Black emerging adults aged 18-29 generated from sociodemographic characteristics and indicators of police contact and exposure to racism-based police violence (RPV), and the relationship between profiles and traumatic stress symptoms.
CITATION: Motley, R. O., Williamson, E., Pieterse, A. L., & Harris, M. (2024). Profiles of Black Emerging Adults Exposure to Racism-Based Police Violence and Associated Mental Health Outcomes. Emerging Adulthood, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968241240182
SUMMARY: In this article, racism is defined and a discussion is offered on its impact on the health and well-being of Black adults in the United States; the intersection of racism and policing; contemporary racialized policing practices; emerging evidence on prevalence rates for exposure (direct and indirect) to perceived racism-based police violence and associated mental and behavioral health outcomes; and police accountability through executive, legislative, legal, and other remedies.
CITATION: Robert O. Motley Jr. and Christopher Baidoo (2023). Racism and Accountable Policing for Black Adults in the United States. National Association of Social Workers Press and Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1639
SUMMARY: This study provides evidence that direct (i.e., victimization or witnessing the event in person) and indirect (i.e., seen in media) exposure to perceived racism-based police violence is a measurable dimension of racist experiences with negative mental health consequences for Black emerging adults. Additionally, it extends our understanding of the frequency of distinct law enforcement-related racism-based experiences for this population by sex. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
CITATION: Motley, R. O., Jr., Joe, S., McQueen, A., Clifton, M., & Carlton, D. (2022). Development, Construct Validity, and Measurement Invariance of the Modified Classes of Racism Frequency of Racial Experiences Measure (M-CRFRE) to Capture Direct and Indirect Exposure to Perceived Racism-Based Police use of Force for Black Emerging Adults. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000525
SUMMARY: Racial discrimination and cannabis use among Black emerging adults in America is a growing public health concern. However, research examining the relationship between exposure to perceived racism-based police use of force and cannabis use for this population is scant. This study examined the frequency of exposure (direct and indirect) to racism-based police use-of-force and its relationship with past 30-day cannabis use for a sample of Black emerging adult men and women 18–29 years of age.
CITATION: Motley, R. O., Jr., Byansi, W., Siddiqi, R., Bills, K., & Salas-Wright, C. P. (2022). Perceived Racism-based Police Use of Force and Cannabis Use among Black Emerging Adults. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100430
SUMMARY: Racism in the US is an essential topic that warrants constant discussion, given its prevalence and association with adverse health consequences. There is still much to be learned regarding the underlying processes and mechanisms by which experiences of racism can lead to negative health-associated outcomes. This study by Fani and colleagues2 is a timely contribution that underscores the need for future research examining the interplay of racism-based experiences, individual and stimuli characteristics, neural response patterns, and adverse health outcomes with a diverse ethnic and sociodemographic sample of US residents, which could elevate the next set of empirical questions focused on alternative intervention approaches.
CITATION: Motley, R. O., Jr, & Rogers, C. (2021). Insights on Neural Response to Racist Threats. JAMA Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1254