Racial Trauma & Self-Care in Tragedy

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” – Audre Lorde

Self-care tips for black people feeling overwhelmed by the media… by reignxshine

  1. Set firm boundaries.
  2. Indulge in black creativity.
  3. Be tactful about your daily scrolls.
  4. Feel.
  5. Connect with other black people.

In light of the Black Lives Matter protests that have swept the nation and the pain and grief experienced by many of our Black students, please find resources regarding self-care, mental health, and wellness for racial trauma and related issues:

Root3d – the ONLY Black-owned wellness center in Albany. “We are here to center the liberation, healing, and power of BIPOC by rooting within the three dimensions: the mind, body, and spirit.” Check out their website/Instagram for information on classes, wellness workshops, and individual sessions.

Solar Flux – Seyi Adeyinka, a Black medical student training to become a psychiatrist, offers one-on-one trauma-informed breath-work sessions.

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation – Taraji P. Henson’s organization, centered on Black mental health, is offering free therapy through a COVID-19 Free Virtual Therapy Support campaign until funds run out. *Allies: Please donate, if you can, to help continue the Foundation’s work.*

Therapy for Black Girls – an online space where Black women and girls can find racially informed therapy providers and access information on a range of mental health topics. The brand also has a podcast available online.

The Loveland Foundation / Loveland Therapy Fund – an organization established by Rachel Cargle to serve Black women and girls through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more. The Loveland Therapy Fund provides financial assistance for Black women and girls seeking therapy across the country.

HealHaus – a Black-owned wellness space in Brooklyn prioritizing the healing and overall well-being of BIPOC through yoga, meditation, workshops, and other wellness practices. They are offering livestreamed classes and workshops that each have a specific focus.

Sista Afya – offers low-cost individual and group therapy and workshops, both on and offline.

Naaya – a Black-owned wellness space that offers race trauma-informed classes and workshops. Naaya’s mission is to redefined wellness so that it centers BIPOC folks and is not synonymous with whiteness, affluence, and able-bodies.

Dive in Well – provides resources, experiences (on and offline gatherings), and digital therapy. “Cultivating space, community, conversations and change for a more equitable and accessible wellness industry.”

Reign x Shine – Follow this company on Instagram (@reignxshine) for wellness/self-care tips, inspirational/empowering mantras, and other information. Also, check out their website to find “carefully curated wellness and lifestyle box[es], with products from black owned businesses” and information about their luxury wellness retreats for black women.

Legal Resources

Advancing Racial Equity and Transforming Government – PDF by Government Alliance on Race & Equity. A guide for people looking for ways to channel their anger and hurt into productivity.

Law for Black Lives (L4BL) – “A national community of radical lawyers and legal workers committed to transforming the law and building the power of organizing to defend, protect and advance Black Liberation across the globe.”

Racial Trauma and Mental Health and Self-Care

Resources courtesy of Prof. Sundquist.

Introduction to Self-Care: If you need support for what you, as an individual, are processing, here is some information on self-care. Self-care is a practice of looking after yourself and recognizing yourself as a person who is worthy and deserving of care.

Some prompts to help you think about self-care:

  1. Are you meeting your physical needs? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating food that nourishes you and drinking enough water? If there are any physical activities/exercise that makes you feel energized and uplifted, have you tried doing those activities? Are there certain comforting daily routine you might perform before you go to sleep?
  2. Are there emotional self-care practices that would bring you comfort, joy or peace? “What fun or leisure activities do you enjoy? How can you make time to incorporate these into every day? Have you tried writing down your thoughts in a journal or personal notebook? Are meditation or relaxation activities a part of your regular schedule? A quick internet search can provide you with guided meditation and relaxations to help you get started. What inspirational words are you reading? Do you have a particular author or favorite website? Who are you spending time with? Is there someone, or a group of people, that you felt safe and supported around? Reach out to them. Where do you spend your time? Is there a special place where you felt/feel comfortable and grounded?
  3. What activities make you feel grounded and allow you to enjoy the present? (Listening to music, stretching, going on a walk, reading, writing, taking a shower, etc.) Focus on doing some activities that bring you joy, clarity, or stability just for the sake of doing them. Whether it is drawing, sculpting, watching your favorite movie, or going for a run, do something that brings you joy just by doing it.

Here are some Mental Health podcasts that are designed for People of Color:

Here are some recommended mental health and self-care practices for People of Color:

Resources for People of Color about Mental Health, from Abaki Beck, Jennie Kim, et al.:

Readings

Resources

As always, please leave a comment if you have any resources you would like to share.

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