Embodied Radical Care Resources for Black Folx

In honor of Juneteenth, I have devoted this post to all the ways Black folx can take care.

There are so many forms of creative expression that bring so much love, joy and nourishment about the beauty and depth of the experience of Blackness. Revel in all of them. Music. Song. Film. Books. Dance. Art… Here are some poems to get you started.

*I, Too poem by Langston Hughes

*Coal poem by Audre Lorde

*To Prisoners poem by Gwendolyn Brooks

*Heartbeats poem by Melvin Dixon

*American History poem by Michael S. Harper

*Won’t You Celebrate With Me poem by Lucille Clifton:

*And Still I Rise poem by Maya Angelou:

*Melanin and Love poem by Lissa: 

*Water poem by Koleka Putuma:

Poem No. 4 by Ijeoma Umebinyuo:

Forms of Healing

*A Black Lives Matter meditation offered as a form of love and care by Lissa:

*Resources for Black Healing by Micalah Webster

*Recognize signs of Racial Battle Fatigue, a term coined by Critical Racial Theorist William Smith explored in this article by Morgan Taylor Goodwin

*Everything Is Awful and I’m Not Okay: Questions to Ask Before Giving Up post by Eponis Sinope

*Resources to support Trauma Stewardship adapted from the work of Laura van Dernoot Lipsky

*Time in Nature

*Rest as a form of resistance via The Nap Ministry article

Rest as you are able taking in the message of this song Lullaby by Tasha:

*Song, humming, music

*Movement, dance, swaying, shaking, rocking, walking…

*Self-holding and loving somatic touch. For example, Body-Settling Hold for working with racial trauma as demonstrated by @twinpowerment

*Time in supportive community for processing and to connect with those who can hold space for your experience fully.

*Alone time.

*Nourishing foods.

*Hydration.

*Notice when you use language like “I am not enough,” “I am too much,” or “I don’t deserve to take care in this way” as these are often forms of internalizing oppressive narratives.

*Remember: You Matter. You are enough. You are worthy of care. You are worthy of love. You are worthy of joy. You are worthy of liberation.

*Journaling, writing, reading. Affirmations and reflections.

*Rituals for grief and love.

*Therapy from someone trained in racial trauma. Support groups.

*Prayer.

*Avoid energy-draining activities like teaching folx who are committed to being racist and committed to racial gaslighting about anti-racism. Instead share with them resources like some of the ones below and save your energy for where it can be more impactful.

*Call in the support of loving ancestors.

*Space for weeping and letting go.

*Celebrate. Practice with gratitude. Reclaim joy.

Resources to offer folx who are still early in the anti-Black racism learning process:

*158 Resources to Understand Racism in America by Meilan Solly article

*Institutionalized Racism: A Syllabus by Catherine Halley

*Scaffolded Anti-Racism Resources by Anna Stamborski, Nikki Zimmermann, and Bailie Gregory

*Black History Resources by Charles Preston

*The First Time I Realized I Was Black video series

*10 Ways Organizations Can Show Up for Black Lives Without Exploiting ‘Black Lives Matter’ article by Sunshine Muse

*Anti-Blackness in non-Black POC is a Colonial Trauma Teachings by @ogorchukwuu

*Actions for Solidarity: #BlackTransLivesMatter Resources created via the oversight of Janet Mock, Raquel Willis, Nala Toussaint, and support from David Johns. Labor provided in solidarity by Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein, and Phillip Picardi.

May you find space for rest, love, and care, dear ones.

—Lissa E.