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
Ep. 167: (Trying To) Understand Suicide - Paula Fontenelle
Ep. 166: Emotions Aren't Problems - Krista St-Germain
Ep. 165: As The Shock Wore Off - Grief's Second Year (Mira Simone)
Ep. 164: Supporting Children & Teens In Grief - Kevin R. Carter, LCSW
Ep. 163: Capital L Love - Caring For A Parent With Alzheimer's (Brianne Grebil)
Ep. 162: When The Professional Becomes Personal - Alesia Alexander, LCSW
Ep. 161: Preserving Memories -Love Not Lost With Ashley Jones
Ep. 160: The Shared Room - Kao Kalia Yang
Ep. 159: Back To School With Grief & The COVID-19 Pandemic - A Tip Sheet
Ep. 158: Growing (Up) With Grief - One Teen's Story
Ep. 157: Let's Talk About Loss - Beth French
Ep. 156: Death As Resistance - Dr. Kami Fletcher
Ep. 155: Gratitude, Guilt, & Grief - Ty Alexander
Ep. 154: Memories And Legacy - CircleIt & Art Shaikh
Ep. 153: Big Emotions In Grief - Jenny Delacruz, LPC
Ep. 152: Teenage Grief Sucks - Natalie Adams
Ep. 151: Resources To Support Grieving Children & Families - An Update From The New York Life Foundation
Ep. 150: Love, Anger, & Grief - Supporting Children After A Murder
Ep. 149: Integrating Grief - Mari Gonzalez
Ep. 148: Wrongful Death - A Grieving Mother's Story (Paula Becker)
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