Mundane Extreme Environmental Stress and African American Families: A Case for Recognizing Different Realities

Abstract

Although Americans are bombarded with the idea that we live in a “colorblind society,” this article argues that the issue of race is still very pervasive in American society. This article highlights how African Americans are perceived by mainstream society and its effect on the overall mental, physical and emotional health of African Americans and their families. Historically, African Americans have been viewed as naturally deficient and pathological. The Moynihan report, Bill Moyers’ awardwinning piece “The Vanishing Black Family,” and other works contribute to the subjugation of African Americans. Few studies have examined how the legacy of slavery and continual institutional racism impact African Americans. The theory of mundane, extreme, environmental stress (MEES) offers this perspective. It describes the unique stress of African Americans who experience the dilemma of “being Black in White America.” In addition, the MEES factor offers a fresh perspective to examining strategies to help African Americans manage and negotiate the system. The article concludes by calling for the creation of a new paradigm for policy creation and scholastic research that would include acknowledging the extreme stressors facing African Americans.

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