Trauma, Identity, and Resilience in Doug Boyd's Rolling Thunder

Abstract

This paper examines Doug Boyd’s biographical account Rolling Thunder through the analytical framework of trauma theory.  Set during the 1960s, a period marked by Native American activism, the book illustrates how Native American communities endured multiple traumatic experiences ranging from racial violence and poverty to cultural dispossession and the disruption of family structures. The research argues that traumatic experiences transform the protagonist, marking their effects on his self-identity, beliefs, and social connections. Through trauma theories developed by Bessel van der Kolk and Judith Herman, this study demonstrates how the protagonist bears both the individual traumatic events and a legacy of trauma inherited through his family history and tribal community.  Drawing on van der Kolk's concept of traumatic memory, the study explores Rolling Thunder’s recurrent nightmares alongside Herman's idea of complex trauma as manifestations of racial prejudice and societal poverty. A qualitative reading of this book demonstrates that the main character uses avoidance, dissociation, and resilience strategies to manage his traumatic responses. This study offers vital insights into effects of trauma on individuals and groups, thereby re-establishing the essential value of trauma-focused care.