Staying Centered and Healthy in the Midst of the Racial Justice Movement
- Michele Bayley
- Sep 29, 2020
- 6 min read
I remember when the video of the death of George Floyd started circulating on social media and details of the incident were reported on the news. The visual of a man losing his life before me was haunting, surreal, and yet very real following on the string of police brutality cases and violence against Black people that we witnessed over the years. Compounding the trauma of watching George Floyd’s death is a constant stream of imagery and narratives of unjust and dehumanizing violence inflicted on Black men and women in recent months – the latest blow being the grand jury decision in the Breona Taylor case. The wounds of racial injustice in this country continue to be opened again and again and again. It is painful and exhausting.
There is a popular meme on social media, “Check in on your Black friends and colleagues, we are not okay.” For many of us, the emotional toll increases exponentially with each report of violence, amplifying distress, anger, fear and grief because of decades of stories and personal experiences of oppression and discrimination that have accumulated in our collective and individual psyches. Last year I visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC and the image of the Emmett Till exhibit still remains fresh – it was that image that emerged in my mind when I saw the video of the white woman in Central Park, Amy Cooper, strategically weaponizing the police against a Black man, Christian Cooper.
Although there has been significant momentum with Black Lives Matter, resulting in unprecedented changes, the movement remains a long and uphill battle. Not to mention, our nation’s racial reckoning is happening alongside the coronavirus pandemic, which disproportionately affects Black and Brown people in America. It is a radical time in our history and sustaining ourselves requires radical self-care – prioritizing our well-being so we can be at full capacity. Below are five (radical) self-care tips for this moment in time:
1. It is Okay to Pause
It’s hard to resist the temptation to regularly check social media and the 24-hour cycle of breaking news. However, disconnecting from the constant flow of information and images provides an opportunity to have some quiet time and process what you feel.
Along with dialing down media, it is okay to take a mental health break – to suspend your daily grind of work and commitments. While taking a break can be spontaneous, it often requires planning and co-conspirators who can pitch in if needed. Protect your sacred time by making sure you have everything in place and the support to make it happen. Taking a break could also mean letting folks around you know that you need to take a breather from the discourse.
2. Be Mindful of Your Thoughts and Emotions
Confronting frequent reports of racially motivated violence, reflecting on our own experience of discrimination and oppression, and witnessing the victories and setbacks of the racial justice movement can evoke a range of emotions and thoughts. Some thoughts and feelings may be at the surface and easy to identify, while others may be more deeply rooted and require reflection to pinpoint. During the summer, I experienced periods when I was in a funk and unfocused. It was not until I had a conversation with my husband that I was able to identify that I was deeply saddened by the stories of police brutality.
It is important to be aware of your thoughts and emotions and the impact that they are having on you. It can also be helpful to check in with people you trust to gauge whether there is a noticeable change in your behavior or personality.
Signs that counseling may be needed to help you cope with your feelings include the inability to function or sleep, extreme fatigue, and prolonged feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, or despair. This is a time to be gentle on yourself – to practice self-compassion and not beat up on yourself for what you are experiencing and how you are feeling.
3. Choose When and Where You Enter the Movement
The urgency of the movement can leave us feeling pressured to grab a sign and hit the streets. While protesting makes a difference and can be very empowering, it is not the only way to have an impact. I’ve heard sisters say they feel guilty for not being able to protest, and I’ve heard sisters who joined protests disclose that they felt anxious and or judged for potentially putting themselves at risk for the coronavirus (myself included).
Fortunately, there are multiple ways to participate in activism – it is not a one size fits all. Sisters are also using social media, elevating the issue through difficult conversations about racism in personal and professional settings, making donations to institutions and collectives that are advancing racial equity, advocating to local legislators, creating and signing petitions, and participating in economic blackout days. To make our contributions to the movement, we must be intentional about what works for us while also being open to opportunities to challenge ourselves.
4. Stay Connected to Your Support Circle
Who are the people in your life that you can be vulnerable around because they understand and accept you and above all have your back? They are your support circle, your pillars that can help you to feel centered during these challenging times. And while support to help process difficult moments is essential, it is equally essential to have people around you that you can experience lighter moments with, including joy, happiness, and celebration. I have leaned on my support circle to have gut-wrenching conversations and also to kick back with humor and virtual watch parties.
My Sisterfriends and I send uplifting memes and text messages to each other daily. In fact, sending uplifting messages to loved ones is a practice that seems to be trending and I highly recommend it. To feel love and inspiration at the start of the day is like getting a warm hug before facing the world. Regardless of how you do it, connect with someone in your support circle on a daily basis.
5. Prioritize Your Health
Now is the time to double down on staying healthy. Why? Crises can lead to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and fear – all of which can affect our mental, physical, and spiritual health. As we are in the midst of two public health crises – coronavirus pandemic and racial injustice – it is essential that we eat a healthy diet, get proper rest, exercise, and nurture our mental and spiritual health. This may mean adapting your health regimens to the current circumstances or making a new commitment to focus on your health. It’s fine to start small and scale up – the commitment is what’s most important.
My self-care practices include:
Writing the things that I am grateful for in my prayer journal
Taking walks in the morning while listening to my favorite gospel songs to rejuvenate my spirit, clear my mind, and get some exercise in for the day
Bike riding with my kids
Working out with fitness videos on YouTube – which is new for me!
Make a plan to ensure the consistency and sustainability of your health goals. Include concrete actions, preparation steps, strategies to reduce obstacles and distractions, and ways to hold yourself accountable to your health goals.
Before signing off, I want to leave you with this quote by the author and activist Audre Lorde:
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare.”
Be well,
Have thoughts to share? Leave a comment and join the conversation!
Resources for Self-Care and Healing
Websites:
Center for Healing Racial Trauma – www.centerforhealingracialtrauma.com
Center for Healing Racial Trauma offers individual and group therapy, consulting, and retreats about racial trauma.
BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective) www.beam.community
BEAM offers professional development and educational training for students, advocates, activists, grassroots movements, and organizations.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) www.nami.org
NAMI offers a toll-free call line to link people to mental health services and resources.
Mental Health Podcast for Us:
Therapy for Black Girls – This is one of my favorite podcasts. Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is down-to-earth and engaging. Her podcasts cover a range of relevant topics for Black women, including racial trauma (#134), and she also provides a resource list of therapists @www.therapyforblackgirls.com.
Apps to Help Manage Anxiety and Increase Calmness:
Books on Healing:
Self magazine published a list of nine books by Black therapists on processing your emotions and healing from racial trauma,
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