The Duality of Self-Care & BIPOC Identity
By: Athena Gerasoulis
In honor of Black History month, and in honor of celebrating the continual growth of multiculturalism in the United States, it is imperative for me, as a person of color, to remind others about the origins of self-care, celebrate the radical and revolutionary contributions of black leaders that initially pioneered the movement, and discuss the topic in a manner that provides accessibility to the ever-growing evolution of self-care in duality with BIPOC identity. We hope this article provides a comprehensive and informative background and history on a topic so prevalent in our lives everyday.
While black history has been a core driving force for many innovative aspects in modern-day society, one concept, pioneered by black activists, that many consider a vital requirement in everyday life is often overlooked in its historical origins, and is due for a proper celebration: the implementation and practice of self-care. Although many of us may be dedicated practitioners of self-care, tracking our sleep schedules and starting our days off with written gratitude exercises, many of us may be unaware of the historical context of our habits, the link between black activism and wellness that blossomed into a modern-day practice of managing mental & physical health.
As of 2021, the wellness and self-care industry in the United States surpassed a market worth of $1.2 trillion, composing nearly one third of the global market value. Nearly two years later, the number has only continued to rapidly expand and proliferate with the guided support of advancing technology, widespread health literacy, and popular consumer culture–a snowball effect further facilitated by aesthetically-driven advertising that is, at least more often than not, dominated by white imagery and perspective in modern day. While the push towards investing in personal self-care aims to ultimately rehabilitate, as well as enhance, the well-being of a generally depleted society, the public integration of self-care has essentially complicated itself from an accommodating theoretical model intended to provide a simple and accessible lifestyle aspects, into a rapidly expanding commercial industry muddled by trendy social media, profit-driven intent, and a lack of formal regulation–all of which further excludes and dismisses the ongoing health disparities in communities of color, in addition to promoting a singular and monolithic representation of health and self-care.
When self-care becomes veiled by whiteness and privilege, the implications feed into the damaging belief that self care is not intended for people of color, and has no applicable benefits and purpose in struggles inherent to the marginalization of the BIPOC identity. Despite this belief, the truth is that self-care has been a significant guiding force in the genesis of black liberation and civil rights, manifesting into a practice that not only contributed significantly to movements throughout history, but also into a concept that is instrumental to maintaining a healthy and productive society in present-day time.
What is self-care–really?
Self-care habits are instrumental practices to incorporate as a person of color, not only for the purpose of managing one’s general well-being within a society that imposes a demanding productivity culture, but also to recognize and buffer the effects of unique barriers and challenges that accompany marginalized identity. While there is no singular definition of self-care, the most basic, primitive, and foundational understanding of the concept, in the context of personal health, can be represented by the maintenance of several key pillars, including, but not limited to, physical, emotional, and social well-being. Variations of the definition may refer to other domains, such as spiritual, intellectual, and practical (such as financial or professional). Perspectives of self-care range from macroscopic and community-based applications, to individual and family-based approaches. Purposes of self-care span primary, secondary, and tertiary intervention. According to the World Health Organization, self-care is described as a “holistic approach to the health and well-being of each person, taking account of their circumstances, needs and desires across a lifetime, as well as the environment in which they live.” While the definition is continuously evolving and multi-dimensionalizing, most accredited research maintains the importance of emphasizing the malleability of self-care in accordance to one’s immediate circumstances and resources–factors that are intimately intertwined with racial identity, systemic privilege, and cultural erasure.
Recognizing Origin:
Despite its recent growth and popularization in white-washed consumer culture, self-care has been a historical emblem of the black feminist movement, with origins in the civil rights movement. In “The Powerful History of Self-Care & How to Honor It Today,” Olivia Groves highlights the role of black activism in the popularization and implementation of tangible self-care: “Known for promoting social justice and change, the Black Panther Party used the radical idea of “self-care” to fight against systemic racism…In order for the Black Panthers to keep up their momentum, they realized they needed to take care of their own group. By encouraging acts of self-care among their members, the movement could stay energized to fight for justice. The Black Panthers wrote a chapter on the history of self-care with the basic idea that communities deserved initiatives that encouraged emotional health and mental health. Especially since black communities often lacked access to basic health care and social services. So, the Black Panther Party started programs, groups, and centers to provide various kinds of professional care.”
Angela Davis, a pioneer of “radical self-care,” maintained a routine of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness while in solitary confinement in the 1970s, continuing her efforts in bringing awareness to the importance of self-care until present day. In a 2018 interview, Davis stated that "(Practicing radical self-care) means we're able to bring our entire selves into the movement. It means we incorporate into our work as activists ways of acknowledging and hopefully moving beyond trauma. It means a holistic approach."
In the late 1980s, Audre Lorde wrote her novel A Burst of Light in the aftermath of her second cancer diagnosis, and in reflection of her experience as a black, lesbian poet: "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare."
Self-care as a movement has been nourished historically and conceptually through black liberation, and furthermore, the contribution of marginalized communities–through action plans, writings, speeches, structural organization, and, most importantly, the synthesis of tireless dedication with innovative beliefs. When modern society presents self-care as a product of whiteness and exclusivity, it is important to recognize and credit the communities that fostered such a significant change and historical achievement in the genesis.
An Ongoing Conversation
Bridging the topic of mental health and self-care to racial identity is the first step to recognizing the importance of navigating your wellness as a person of color. While expectations of resiliency have been a historical marker of BIPOC communities, so have acts of self-care and tools for physical/interpersonal well-being. In order to spread compassion to others, we must take time to replenish our stores with self-compassion, by gently reminding ourselves to implement habits that prioritize rest and rehabilitation through quality sleep, guided meditations, digital detoxes, and exposure to positive and nurturing resources to continuously learn and grow. In addition to celebrating the achievements and history of your cultural identity, we also encourage you to take a moment, away from the noise of any societal imposition, to check in on yourself and only yourself; in the end, this is something that you–just like anybody else–deserve as well.
Resources for Self-Care
To learn more about self-care in the BIPOC community through the cultivation of healthy and empowering habits in everyday life, as well as learn more about modern-day leaders in the movement towards radical self-care, we encourage you to take a look into some of the resources we have listed below.
The Nap Ministry, founded by Tricia Hersey in 2016. You can read about the work Hersey has dedicated herself to in her NY Times Feature.
Reverend Angel Kyodo Williams, author of RADICAL DHARMA: Talking Race, Love and Liberation & BEING BLACK: Zen and the Art of Living With Fearlessness & Grace. Aside from her novels, she has a rich collective of resources focusing on spirituality in duality with race. You can explore her media, writings, projects, and so forth on her official website.
Urban Wellness Magazine, featuring works by Editor-in-Chief Jordan Rome, “Radical Self-Care Is Essential For Black People and a Tool of Resistance.”
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