Is Whooping "White People Sh*t?"

In many Black households, corporal punishment—often referred to as “whooping”—has long been accepted as a traditional method of discipline. For generations, it’s been justified with phrases like “Spare the rod, spoil the child,” or “I whoop you so the police won’t.” But behind those familiar sayings lies a painful truth: corporal punishment in Black families is not cultural—it is colonial. It is a trauma response passed down from slavery, and it continues to leave lasting psychological harm on Black children today.

🧓🏾 Where Did Whooping Come From?

Let’s be clear: physical punishment was not a traditional African child-rearing practice. It was introduced during slavery as a tool of control and domination. Enslavers used brutal beatings to break the spirit of enslaved Africans, assert power, and enforce submission. Over time, many enslaved parents, desperate to protect their children from white violence, adopted similar discipline tactics as a form of preemptive survival training.

In other words, Black parents began whooping their children to "teach them how to behave" before white society punished them even more harshly.

🧠 The Psychological Effects on Black Children

Studies show that children who experience corporal punishment are at greater risk of:

• Anxiety and depression

• Aggression and antisocial behavior

• Poor self-esteem

• Difficulty forming secure attachments

  
  

For Black children, these impacts are intensified by the broader racial trauma they endure from systemic racism, media criminalization, over-policing, and economic exclusion. When violence comes from inside the home and outside the home, it reinforces a dangerous message: that their bodies must be controlled, and their emotions don’t matter.

This can create internalized racism, feelings of unworthiness, and deep emotional wounds that extend well into adulthood. It is no wonder toxicity is normalized when we were taught by our first loves (parents) that we must be abused as a form of control under the guise of love.

⚖️ Corporal Punishment as a Form of Internalized White Supremacy

When Black parents discipline children through pain, they often believe they’re protecting them from a racist world. But the method—rooted in slavery—mirrors the very oppression it’s meant to shield them from. This form of internalized white supremacy reinforces the idea that Black children must be made compliant through fear.

Discipline becomes about control, not connection. Obedience, not understanding. Survival, not thriving.

💡 Breaking the Cycle

To heal our children—and ourselves—we must break the cycle. That means:

• Understanding the historical roots of corporal punishment

• Choosing alternatives like conscious or gentle parenting

• Prioritizing emotional regulation, communication, and respect

• Creating safe spaces for Black children to be heard, not hurt

Ending corporal punishment in our communities isn’t about judgment. It’s about liberation. Loving our children means protecting their bodies and their spirits.