Gallows humour is the ability to find something funny in the middle of something painful, it is one of the oldest survival tools humans have. And if we’re being honest, the Afroglobal community has mastered it. From Caribbean aunties cracking jokes at funerals, to West African parents turning hardship into one‑liners, to Black Twitter turning global chaos into memes within minutes… we’ve always known how to laugh even when life tries to break us.

But here’s the twist:
Science now confirms that gallows humour can actually help us heal.

Not by dismissing pain.
Not by pretending everything is fine.
But by giving us a moment of control, a breath of relief, and a reminder that even in darkness, we still have light.

What Exactly Is Gallows Humour?

Gallows humour is the kind of humour people use in stressful, frightening or traumatic situations. It’s the joke you crack when you’re overwhelmed. The laugh you let out when you should probably be crying. The “if I don’t laugh, I’ll scream” moment.

It’s not denial.
It’s not avoidance.
It’s a coping mechanism, and a powerful one.

The Science Behind Why It Works

Psychologists and trauma researchers have studied gallows humour for decades, especially among:

• Emergency workers
• Soldiers
• Doctors and nurses
• Survivors of trauma
• Communities facing chronic stress

Here’s what they found:

1. It reduces stress hormones

Humour lowers cortisol (the stress chemical) and increases dopamine, the brain’s “feel‑good” neurotransmitter.

2. It creates emotional distance

Humour gives the brain a tiny buffer between “me” and “the pain,” making the situation feel less overwhelming.

3. It strengthens resilience

Studies show that people who use dark humour often have higher psychological resilience and better emotional regulation.

4. It builds connection

Shared laughter (even in hard times) creates bonding, trust and a sense of “we’re in this together.”

5. It helps process trauma

For some people, humour becomes a bridge between the traumatic event and the ability to talk about it safely.

This is why therapists sometimes encourage humour as a coping tool, not to minimise trauma, but to help people move through it.

Why Gallows Humour Is So Powerful in the Afroglobal Community

Across the diaspora, we have centuries of experience turning pain into power.
Humour has always been part of our survival toolkit.

1. It’s cultural

African, Caribbean and Black British humour is sharp, witty, layered and often rooted in truth-telling. We laugh to stay sane.

2. It’s communal

We don’t just laugh alone, we laugh together. Humour becomes a shared language of resilience.

3. It’s protective

When the world tries to define us by struggle, humour reminds us of our humanity, creativity and brilliance.

4. It’s healing

From barbershops to kitchen tables, from WhatsApp groups to church pews, humour helps us release tension and reclaim joy.

5. It’s resistance

Sometimes, laughing in the face of hardship is the most radical thing we can do.

How to Use Gallows Humour in a Healthy Way

Gallows humour is powerful, but like any tool, it works best when used intentionally.

Here’s how to use it in a way that supports healing:

Use it to cope, not to hide
If humour becomes the only way you deal with pain, it may be time to talk to someone you trust.

Use it with people who understand you
Gallows humour has a cultural element, so share it with those who “get it.”

Use it to release tension, not to dismiss your feelings
Laugh, but also allow yourself to feel.

Use it to connect
Shared humour builds community, and community builds resilience.

Use it to reclaim power
When you can laugh, you remind yourself that trauma doesn’t own you.

The Bottom Line: Laughter Isn’t Escaping — It’s Surviving

Gallows humour is not about making light of trauma.
It’s about making space for breath in the middle of it.

It’s about saying:

“I’m still here.”
“I’m still standing.”
“I still have joy, even when life tries to take it.”

For the Afroglobal community, humour has always been more than entertainment, it’s been medicine, memory, rebellion and relief.

And now science finally agrees:
Sometimes, the joke is what keeps us alive long enough to heal.

By Emma Harding