“No justice, no peace. Know justice, know peace.”
After the verdict was handed down last week that former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of all three charges of second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of unarmed Black man George Floyd, Black communities let out a symbolic sigh of relief. Justice had prevailed.
We celebrate the continual healing of Blackness itself, but we are still reminded of how far we have to go as Malcolm X truths decades before could have easily been written on the day that Chauvin’s guilty verdict was made known.
“We are not fighting for integration, nor are we fighting for separation. We are fighting for recognition as human beings…In fact, we are actually fighting for rights that are even greater than civil rights and that is human rights.” – Malcolm X (“Black Revolution”)
How do we exactly fight for our rights, still, and seek healing in this racist-tinged world full of people who don’t like you simply because of the color of your skin? We heal first, according to www.healthline.com.
Because racism isn’t a one and done type of thing, Black people face racism in a myriad of ways that can, over time, build up into harming side effects. That needs to be released in ways listed below.
Validate Experiences That Are Racist
When a Black person faces racism or racist experiences, find ways to heal from that through different support services whether it be with a circle of friends, family, the church or working with counselors.
Celebrating Blackness
Black is always beautiful and finding ways to celebrate our blackness is important every day of the year.
Confronting the Source and the System that Allows or Finances Racist Behavior
Learn more about the companies you purchase from – find out what organizations and causes they support and to ensure that they align with your values. If not, support business, Black-owned or others, that are committed to racial equality and justice.
This helps Black people become empowered knowing that your money does not ultimately help finance the systems and people who are intent on killing Black people, and gives allies the information they need to support equality.
Talking Reparations
Reparations focus on the material conditions of the descendants of enslaved people beyond finances, according to the article.
“For example, it includes healthcare in response to the chronic illnesses that are a direct result of slavery and its aftermath.” Let’s talk more about that and get on the political train to ensure this happens.
Black Mental Health
When a wrong is acknowledged, it must be fixed. As all people become more aware of racial injustice, Black people are better able to hold them accountable.
Beyond diversity and inclusion training, Black people require psychosocial support as they work through trauma, according to the article. The professional guidance of Black mental health practitioners is important and sometimes essential to healing.
“So is having the space to care for our mental health on a day-to-day basis. We ask a lot of ourselves. We can support each other by normalizing taking care of our individual and collective mental health,” according to the article.
Emphasizing Rest
One of the most important practices that’s growing in popularity in the Black community is rest.
“It’s a part of self-care but also a critical component of community care. We automatically associate rest and relaxation with holidays and days of observance,” according to the article. But we need to make rest a part of everyday life. “Activism can easily take the place of hobbies and leisure, so rest must become an intentional practice.”
Content provided by www.healthline.com.
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