A Rest Manifesto to All Black Girls and Women
For so long Black women have been the backbone of society, the innovators, the visionaries
….and we still are that.
However, with this responsibility comes the unfortunate reality of continuously failing to meet our own needs.
Failing to check in with ourselves, failing to prioritize our well-being and failing to be present.
We’re constantly filling everyone else's cups when we’ve failed to fill our own.
To the Black girl or woman reading this, ask yourself: am I doing what I can to take care of myself? I hope your answer is yes, however, if your answer is no– I challenge you to take control and center yourself in all that you do.
We live in a society that thrives off of capitalism and prides itself on overworking to receive the bare minimum.
Black women, we can no longer be victimized by capitalism. We deserve to show up as our full selves.
Tricia Hersey, the creator of The Nap Ministry, shared, “Black people are dying from sleep deprivation and our resistance to rest is a social justice and public health issue. Capitalism was created on plantations during chattel slavery and is the same system that is driving the entire globe to exhaustion and a deep disconnection with our bodies and minds today. We are no longer divine human beings in this system and instead machines.”
Let’s change the narrative and create the lives we are constantly seeking through rest, through community and wellness. You cannot become your wildest dream, if you’re fatigued, burnt out, stressed or anything else besides your whole self.
You got this, I believe in you.
While I’m no expert through training, my lived experience as a Black woman qualifies me to shed light on this issue that continues to plague communities of women that look, think and feel like me. So go outside, create a routine that centers rest, rekindle a passion that may have been lost, try something new but most importantly, do it for you. no more question marks when it comes to taking care of yourself, just periods.
Black Women in Charge Inc. prides itself on centering the unique experiences of Black women from various backgrounds. BWC, Inc. addresses issues that relate but are not limited to lobbying, advocacy, legislation, public health, artificial intelligence and so much more. Stay tuned for many more blog posts that amplify the sociopolitical concerns of Black women and girls across the globe.
Before I close, always dare to challenge the status quo and remember: You deserve rest. You deserve to feel whole. You deserve a life that is filled with good things.
xoxo
Aigne Taylor
