The reality for Black individuals and families living in the U.S. is that death happens more often and earlier on than for their white counterparts. In the last two decades, these higher rates of mortality resulted in 1.63 million excess deaths for Black Americans compared to white Americans. Doneila McIntosh brings her personal and professional experiences with this reality to her work as a researcher studying the intersections of disenfranchised grief among African American families. Disenfranchised grief occurs when a loss isn't recognized or seen as valid, often the result of stigma. The disenfranchisement of Black grief is rooted in racism, which influences both the disproportionate rates of mortality and the lack of support for grief and grief expression.
Doneila McIntosh is a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota in Family Social Science with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Doneila has a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Theological Studies and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (M.A.). Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, she worked as a chaplain for nearly 10 years.
We discuss:
Doneila’s current research on understanding the impact of disproportionate rates of death and grief in the African American community.
Her personal and professional motivation to do this work.
The desecration of sacred Black grief spaces.
The disenfranchisement of African American grief.
How the language we use to talk about grief is rooted in culture and how that can be a strength.
The gap in the research literature about Black and African American grief.
Culturally specific interventions to support grief.
How culture shapes grief expression.
Doneila’s work to become literate in the historical & current context of Black grief and the cultural strengths she uncovered along the way.
How her family honors her grandfather’s legacy.
Follow Doneila on IG @doneila_mcintosh
"Am I Even Safe In My Home?" Collective Grief In Communities With Marginalized Identities - Dr. Amber Nelson PsyD
"I Can't Even Imagine" - Grieving Both Parents
Widowish - Melissa Gould
The Indigenous Death Doula Mentorship Program - Chrystal Wàban Toop
Love Stories - A Griefy Valentine's Special
Ep. 182: Healing Trauma, Attending To Grief - Native Wellness Institute & Jillene Joseph
Ep. 181: "She's Always With Me" - Finding Peace In The Permanence Of Grief
Ep. 180: More Than Just A Number - Grieving When Someone Dies Of COVID-19
Ep. 179: Sons Of Suicide - 50 Years Of Friendship & Grief
Ep. 178: Survivor's Guilt - Julia Mallory
Ep. 177: The Relentless Nature Of Grief - Carmel Breathnach
Ep. 176: Grief In Your Twenties - Amber Jeffrey/The Grief Gang
Ep. 175: Grieving A Mother While Becoming A Mother - Dara Kurtz
Ep. 174: Holidays & Grief + A Pandemic
Ep. 173: Grateful In Grief? Never, Ever Give Up – Allison Hite
Ep. 172: Living After Your Child's Life Ends - Margo Fowkes
Ep. 171: Reckoning With Grief At The End Of Life - BJ Miller
Ep. 170: Grief & Identity - Alica Forneret
Ep. 169: When It Comes To Grief, What Counts? - Shelby Forsythia
Ep. 168: Giving Forward - Grief & The Foster Care System (Derrick Kirk)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Your Sleep Guru Podcast
Anxiety Slayer™ with Shann and Ananga
Men Do Talk Podcast
The Dr. John Delony Show
On Purpose with Jay Shetty