Dr. Joy DeGruy is a renowned educator, researcher, and advocate, known for her groundbreaking work on trauma, racism, and their intergenerational effects. With a wealth of experience spanning decades, Dr. DeGruy’s research explores the psychological and social legacy of slavery on African descendants in the Americas. Her influential book, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury & Healing, delves into these topics, offering a transformative approach to healing. Dr. DeGruy’s dynamic lectures and workshops have inspired audiences worldwide, shedding light on critical societal issues. Learn more about her impactful work at JoyDeGruy.com.
Born on October 16, 1957, in Los Angeles, California, Dr. Joy DeGruy was the youngest of four children in a working-class family. Her father, Oscar DeGruy, worked as a truck driver, while her mother, Nellie Parker DeGruy, was a stay-at-home mom. Her parents hailed from Louisiana, and her maternal great-grandparents were from Belize.
Dr. DeGruy attended school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, including Crenshaw High School, where she participated in a dual enrollment program. DeGruy has stated that her high school guidance counselor told her that she was not college material. Despite that, she excelled and went on to pursue higher education.
Dr. Joy DeGruy earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication from Portland State University. She holds two master’s degrees—one in Social Work from Portland State and another in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University—along with a Ph.D. in Social Work and Social Research from Portland State’s Graduate School of Social Work. Her doctoral research focused on predicting African American male youth violence, integrating Sociocultural Theory, Social Learning Theory, and Trauma Theory. This work laid the foundation for her book, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.
DeGruy previously served as assistant professor at Portland State University School of Social Work. She is currently president and CEO of DeGruy Publications, Inc.
For more information about Dr Joy DeGruy visit her website here.
