Trauma refers to an emotional response to an upsetting event, like a natural disaster or violent crime. A growing body of research suggests that trauma can be passed down from one generation to the next, meaning that people can feel anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses triggered by events they never experienced firsthand — but their ancestors did.

....... Racial trauma refers to the emotional impact of stress related to racism, racial discrimination, and race-related stressors, such as being affected by stereotypes, hurtful comments, or barriers to advancement. Racial trauma can refer to a specific incident of racial discrimination or the ongoing, harmful emotional impact of racial discrimination that builds up over time.

People can experience racial trauma from something that happens directly to them or from seeing others mistreated because of their race. Coverage of events caused by racial discrimination in the media can also be upsetting, and repeated viewing or frequent media accounts can amplify those feelings.
 

Racial trauma can also be intergenerational, meaning it can affect multiple generations. You might experience racial trauma if an ancestor experienced ongoing racism, especially through things like genocide, slavery, or internment camps.

--- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (read full article)
 

​