The book
What We Didn't Get
How Poverty, Racism, and Trauma Interrupted Black Development
by Linda Landum, RN, MSN-Ed, MA · Watch the author video
Some of us grew up without the safety, attention and room to grow that every child needs, and we still carry it. This book explains how poverty, racism and generations of trauma interrupted Black development, and lays out how families, schools and communities can repair what was interrupted.
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What the book is about
What We Didn't Get explores how systemic racism, historical trauma and poverty have disrupted critical developmental stages in the African American community. Linda Landum examines how missed milestones in trust, identity and emotional security affect children, families and entire communities across generations.
Challenging traditional Eurocentric theories of development, the book reframes growth and healing through a culturally responsive lens. It highlights resilience, shows how lost stages can be reclaimed, and offers practical, affirming strategies for parents, educators and helping professionals.
At its core, this work is a call to action: to repair what was interrupted, strengthen emotional foundations, and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Inside the book
Interrupted milestones
How missed milestones in trust, identity and emotional security affect children, families and entire communities across generations.
Poverty, racism and historical trauma
How systemic racism, historical trauma and poverty have disrupted critical developmental stages in the African American community.
A culturally responsive lens
Why traditional Eurocentric theories of human development fall short, and how growth and healing look when the full context of Black life is taken seriously.
Resilience and repair
Practical, affirming strategies for reclaiming lost stages, strengthening emotional foundations and making sure every child has the chance to thrive.
Who this book is for
- Educators looking for culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches
- Mental health practitioners, nurses and social workers
- Parents, grandparents and caregivers in African American communities
- Adults trying to understand how their own childhood still shapes them
- Book clubs, faith groups and community organizations
- Policymakers and leaders committed to educational equity
Book details
- Title
- What We Didn't Get: How Poverty, Racism, and Trauma Interrupted Black Development
- Author
- Linda Landum, RN, MSN-Ed, MA
- Publisher
- Shrewd Wit Incorporated
- Formats
- Paperback, hardcover and eBook
- Paperback ISBN-13
- 9798243721431
- Paperback ASIN
- B0GGHFCLP6
- Hardcover ISBN-13
- 9798243721653
- Kindle ASIN
- B0GFXPHN4F
- Language
- English
Explore the ideas behind the book
Free essays from Linda Landum on the developmental science and lived experience the book draws on.
- What Is Generational Trauma? Definition, Examples and Signs
- Books on Childhood Emotional Neglect: A Reading List for Healing
- 15 Signs of Childhood Emotional Neglect in Adults, With Examples
- Signs You Grew Up With Emotionally Immature Parents
- Generational Trauma in African American Families: Causes and Healing
- Books About Generational Trauma, Racial Trauma and Teaching
- How to Break Generational Trauma: Steps, Journal Prompts, Self-Check
- Generational vs Intergenerational Trauma: Differences and PTSD
- Racial Trauma in Children and Schools: For Educators and Parents
- What We Didn't Get: Unmet Childhood Needs and Maslow's Hierarchy
- Erikson's Eight Stages and the African American Experience
- Intergenerational Trauma in Black Families: Breaking the Cycle
- How Childhood Emotional Neglect Shapes the Adult You Become
- ACEs Explained: The ACE Test, Types of Childhood Trauma and Toxic Stress
- Trauma-Informed Teaching: Classroom and School Strategies
Questions about the book
What is What We Didn't Get about?
What We Didn't Get: How Poverty, Racism, and Trauma Interrupted Black Development explores how systemic racism, historical trauma and poverty disrupted critical stages of human development in the African American community, and how families and communities can repair what was interrupted.
Who wrote What We Didn't Get?
The book was written by Linda Landum, RN, MSN-Ed, MA, a nurse educator and the founder of Shrewd Wit Incorporated. She also writes and speaks as Linda Kamal.
Who should read this book?
Educators, counselors, nurses, social workers, parents and caregivers, and anyone who wants to understand how unmet childhood needs and developmental trauma carry into adulthood and across generations.
Where can I buy What We Didn't Get?
The paperback, hardcover and Kindle eBook are sold on Amazon. The eBook is also sold on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Bookshop.org and Everand, all reachable through one Books2Read link where you can read a free sample first. You can also buy it directly from Shrewd Wit's store on Beacons.
Can I borrow What We Didn't Get from the library?
Yes. The eBook is available to libraries through Libby (OverDrive), Hoopla and cloudLibrary. If your library does not have it yet, search for the title in the Libby app and tap "Notify me" or "Suggest a purchase", or ask a librarian to order it.
Can I order copies for a school, clinic or book club?
Yes. Shrewd Wit Inc. arranges bulk orders for schools, clinics, nonprofits and book clubs, and Linda is available to speak or lead a workshop based on the book. Use the contact page to ask.
Start reading today
Ordering for a school, clinic, nonprofit or book club, or want Linda to speak? Ask about bulk orders and events.