in America has and continues to be characterized by trauma and violence more often than for their White counterparts and impacts emotional and mental health of both youth and adults. Historical dehumanization, oppression, and violence against African American people has evolved into present day racism – structural, institutional, and individual – and cultivates a uniquely mistrustful and less affluent community experience, characterized by a myriad of disparities including inadequate access to and delivery of care in the healthcare system. Help-seeking behavior is affected by mistrust of the medical system and often begins with faith-based outreach. African American people are more likely to experience chronic and persistent, rather than episodic, mental health conditions.