Objective: This study examined the relationships between race-based traumatic stress symptoms (RBTSS), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and negative affect (NA) in the past year. Method: Participants were 185 community-based respondents who completed a paper and pencil survey of the race-based traumatic stress symptoms scale (RBTSSS), diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM)-related PTSD symptoms, and negative emotions. Results: Two canonical correlation analyses were conducted for two participant groups: those with no race-based traumatic stress (RBTS) elevations and those with one or more RBTS elevations. Results showed a significant relationship between RBTS symptoms and PTSD symptoms for the no elevation group, and a significant relationship between RBTS symptoms and NA for the race-based stress/traumatic stress group. Notably, RBTS inclusion was not significantly correlated with NA. Conclusions: Those with average-level RBTS symptoms appear to endorse more PTSD criteria, while those with elevated RBTS scores do not. The study, therefore, highlights the need for further investigation of how diagnostic measures of trauma may differentiate from trauma symptoms related to race-based experiences. Clinical Impact StatementUnderstanding the psychological effects of racism is now being understood within the context of trauma, both in regard to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and race-based trauma as emotional injury. This study suggests that the relationship between race-based traumatic stress (RBTS) and trauma might be associated with the level of RBTS symptoms exhibited. Higher scores of RBTS symptoms were associated with negative emotions and not with PTSD symptoms. Therefore, given the complex manner in which RBTS symptoms can present, clinicians are encouraged to routinely undertake an assessment of racial trauma as part of a standard intake procedure.