I write these words today from my heart with a love for my people that runs deep. We are living through some of the most bewildering, challenging, and infuriating times that most people living have ever seen. And I care especially how we as Black folks are managing our own mental-emotional-physical health, our souls, and our spirits in the midst of the crazy that is 2020 in America. As a Christian minister and college chaplain I am often speaking to people about the importance of developing a self-care regimen. This world we live in is often unfair and brutal to Black people: our bodies, our psyches, our souls. The events of this year so far have been no exception with the police murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Rayshard Brooks.  And we must be sure that as we fight for justice and work to create the world we want to see, we prioritize ourselves in that process. It is vital to our survival. And I believe that God is always desirous of our freedom, but also of our survival and our health. I had a few ideas for ways we can take care of ourselves as we righteously shout, “Black lives matter!” This list is not exhaustive, and it is shaped by my perspective a Christian woman of faith. Please examine it, take what you need, edit it in a way that works for you. But whatever you do, family, love on you and each other!

Get Your Mind Right

1. Remember that our cause is righteous, and represents the moral high ground. Don’t be discouraged by messages to the contrary. The fight for justice is always the right side of the fight. Feel good that you’re on it.

2. Fight for justice without looking for affirmation or acceptance from racists and oppressors. Release yourself from the exhausting work of convincing others who don’t “get it.”; that is a major energy drainer. Besides “getting it” is their job; not yours. Your Black life matters period, whether they “get it” or not.

Protect and Conserve Your Energy

3. Don’t argue with fools. Conserve your sacred energy, family! Don’t waste it on people who choose willful ignorance over real introspection, reflection, enlightenment, and meaningful dialogue. They don’t get it because they don’t want to get it. Move on.

4. Take a break. This fight can get overwhelming really quickly. Sometimes you need to disengage and regroup. That is natural and ultimately necessary to restore your spirit. Pick a day or two each week to stay away from social media, reading articles, or doing any work related to the struggle. God gave us the Sabbath for a reason, practice it. You need it.

Fill Your Well

5. Nurture your spirit regularly. Engage in important faith practices that restore you: prayer, spiritual reading, solitude, meditation, fasting, worship, devotion, affirmations, etc. Love on your spirit and take care of it. Allow God in to love on and affirm you. Bask in the truth of yourself as being God’s own beloved, full of beauty, value, and worth.

6. Create and embrace Black joy! Be with your people and love on each other. Laugh and enjoy the time with the people that matter most to you. Build the bonds of community and relationships that sustain you and help all of us thrive. Have some fun and make time to eat drink and be merry. Creating Black joy is one of the best ways to fight against the aims of oppression.

7. Indulge the arts, especially Black art. Appreciating the work of Black artists can be so affirming for Black people. To see yourself and your people in art (visual, music, dance, film, theatre, writing, etc) affirms the soul and encourages you and makes you proud. Live in the beautiful world black artists create for us and be blessed.

Care For Your Body

8. Commit to getting your sleep. You need your rest to stay healthy. You cannot solve everything in one day. Do what you can today, and leave the rest for tomorrow. Give your body the love it needs and sleep.

9. Eat well, drink water, and stay active. Our bodies are gifts from God and we should take care of them as best we can. Try to eat nutritious food and keep your body as active as works for you. Get nutrients into your body and get the endorphins going. Take care of your body so you can keep at the important work of justice. Again, good health is a direct assault on the aims of oppression.

Look For Hope

10. Celebrate the small victories as they come. If it’s the removal of confederate monument, the establishment of a new task force for committing to inclusion at work, or ban of no-knock warrants, it is okay to appreciate forward progress when it comes. Though we know the fight is ongoing and there is always more to demand, it is okay and necessary to acknowledge the tiny steps forward. Use that as fuel and inspiration to keep going. Give the thanks to God for even the smallest accomplishments. They matter.

11. Remember this is a team sport. Stay connected to your community of freedom fighters, protestors, and allies. We all have a part to play and can’t do it alone. We need each other. Use the platforms you have to do what you can, but trust your family to do their part as well. As we all work together and do what we can, change really does happen. Do not become overwhelmed because you are trying to figure it all out alone.

12. Work to create the world you want to see because it’s what you believe in and leave the rest to God. Tearing down systems of oppression is lifelong, back-breaking, tiring work. Don’t look for anything to change overnight or be discouraged when it doesn’t. Know that your fight is righteous and that God is with us in it, moving away heavy stones and barriers that block our path. Our ancestors knew this and today we are the fruit of their faith. Like them we should do our part, never give up, and trust God with the rest.

What ways are you taking care of yourself in the ongoing fight for justice? Please share below! Let’s help each other and love each other through this.

In hope and love,

-Ari

P.S. I am indebted to Dr. Lisa Upshaw for the title I used here: “Self-Care is the New Black.” Saw it on her site. Loved it. Borrowed it. Thank you.