The Hidden Costs of Resilience on Black Health and Wellbeing

In this episode of Espresso Talk Today, host Ama-Robin dives into the often undiscussed aspect of "Making a Way out of No Way." While resilience, resourcefulness, and determination have driven the Black community to achieve remarkable successes, these traits have also taken a significant toll on our health.

Ama-Robin explores the phenomenon of John Henryism, highlighting the chronic stress, early mortality, and mental health struggles that result from the constant pressure to work twice as hard in a system stacked against us.

This episode emphasizes the urgent need for self-care and self-love to combat these hidden costs and ensure holistic well-being.

Join us as we unpack the importance of balancing determination with self-care in our journey toward empowerment and success.

Bonus Content:

Five radical ways of preventing the effects of John Henryism:

1. Cultural Healing Practices: Engage in traditional African and African American healing practices, such as drumming circles, dance, and spiritual rituals. These cultural expressions can be powerful tools for emotional release, community bonding, and holistic healing.

2. Radical Rest: Embrace the concept of radical rest as an act of resistance. Challenge the societal norms that equate productivity with worth by intentionally prioritizing rest and downtime. This might include regular "rest days" where no work is done, embracing napping, and creating restful spaces in your home.

3. Community Care Networks: Form or join community care networks where members actively support each other's well-being. This could involve collective childcare, shared meal prep, community gardening, or mutual aid groups that provide financial and emotional support.

4. Creative Expression as Therapy: Utilize creative outlets such as art, poetry, music, dance, or theater to process and express emotions. Organize or participate in community art projects that reflect shared experiences and foster a sense of collective healing and empowerment.

5. Decolonizing Wellness: Explore wellness practices that challenge Western norms and incorporate indigenous and diasporic knowledge systems. This could involve herbal medicine, acupuncture, or alternative therapies that focus on holistic health and community-based care.

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Other Resources:

Association of Black Psychologists

The Center for Black Health & Equity