The children today saw what happened to Trayvon Martin when he walked innocently along a street with a can of iced tea and a box of candy. The haunting of the African American psyche began centuries ago, as the children then also saw too much. For them, it is clear: if the children are not well the social structure is fragile, unstable and deeply at-risk. Indeed, this type of ritual signifies the deep wisdom of the Maassi they are fully aware that the security and welfare of the children is the foremost symbol of the community's health. How potent it must be to the social structure when the status of the children is held in such high esteem that their well-being is the first order of business. And this greeting, it fascinates me! I can only imagine the impact of such a custom on the psyche of members of a society. This honor notwithstanding, it is on the Maasai peoples' ritualistic greeting 'Kasserian Ingera' - translated as: 'And how are the children?' that DeGruy begins her volume.

Noted for its deeply rich culture, the Tribe is also significant for its historically acclaimed warrior-stance against 18th century colonialism and slavery. Joy DeGruy opens with a passage from a speech highlighting a tradition of the powerful Maasai Tribe of East Africa. In her highly-acclaimed book, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing, Dr.

Transgenerational trauma