It’s important for everyone to continuously work at improving their mental and physical health, but especially for individuals in the BIPOC community. Carrying a deep and complicated history of generational andracial traumacan take asignificant toll; carving out moments for joy and self care is crucial.

What is Black Joy?

No matter the mode of creative self expression one might choose, the Black Joy movement supports the mindset of being rebelliously joyous. Society has tried to take away joyous moments from Black People, and even as work continues to be done to dismantle systems of inequality, rejoicing in Blackness is one of the most powerful and necessary things you can do.

“Being secure and taking pride in our Blackness is an important element in healing from racial trauma and continuing to fight against systems of oppression.”

Talkspace therapist Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD, C-DBT

Black Joy and JuneteenthOnJuneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, celebrating Black Joy and Black culture is more important than ever. The act of celebrating freedom while acknowledging that the history of slavery continues to impact Black lives makes Juneteenth a paradoxical holiday, but it also shows the perseverance of Black Joy throughout a complicated past.In the early days, Juneteenth was often celebrated with baseball, fishing, church programming, rodeos and decadent meals. Symbolic red foods such as red beans and rice, punch, red velvet cake, and watermelon were eaten, red representing the strength and perseverance of Black ancestors. Today, the celebrations might look a little different, but it is still a day that Black Americans pause to celebrate. It might mean Black friends joining together to dance for a TikTok skit, promoting Black businesses, or enjoying a barbecue. Non Black folks can use the day to pause andlearna bit more about the tragic past that has led to our difficult present — Talkspace therapistAshley ErtelLCSW, BCD, C-DBT recommends reading Ibram X Kendi’s bookStamped from the Beginning. Non Black individuals can also think about any action they can take in their own life to uplift and support Black voices.

Black Joy and Juneteenth

OnJuneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, celebrating Black Joy and Black culture is more important than ever. The act of celebrating freedom while acknowledging that the history of slavery continues to impact Black lives makes Juneteenth a paradoxical holiday, but it also shows the perseverance of Black Joy throughout a complicated past.

In the early days, Juneteenth was often celebrated with baseball, fishing, church programming, rodeos and decadent meals. Symbolic red foods such as red beans and rice, punch, red velvet cake, and watermelon were eaten, red representing the strength and perseverance of Black ancestors. Today, the celebrations might look a little different, but it is still a day that Black Americans pause to celebrate. It might mean Black friends joining together to dance for a TikTok skit, promoting Black businesses, or enjoying a barbecue. Non Black folks can use the day to pause andlearna bit more about the tragic past that has led to our difficult present — Talkspace therapistAshley ErtelLCSW, BCD, C-DBT recommends reading Ibram X Kendi’s bookStamped from the Beginning. Non Black individuals can also think about any action they can take in their own life to uplift and support Black voices.

How to Focus on Your Mental & Physical Health

Taking time to truly celebrate Black Joy will undoubtedly have a positive impact on your mental health. Here are some ways you can focus on improving your mental and physical health while holding space for Black Joy.

1. Self Care

Self care is a critical component to racial justice. As activist Audre Lorde wrote in her 1988 essay collectionA Burst of Light: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

What do you love to do? Is it cooking, dancing, making art, or reading that book you’ve already read six times on a park bench? Whatever it is, let yourself do it guilt free and bask in the sense of joy that the action gives you.

Part of self-care is caring for your mental health. If you’re looking to heal from any past trauma, you might want to consider therapy. Even if you don’t have any mental health conditions, in-person oronline therapyis a viable option for people who wish to learn more about themselves and truly live in a mode of self-care as they work towards their best selves. The more you work on yourself, the more you can contribute toward the world around you. Learnwhy self-care is importantand how it can help you contribute to your community.

“There are many ways to increase your sense of self. Some of my favorites include: finding a community of others who are also on a self-discovery journey, reading historically accurate books about the triumphs of our ancestors, and leaning into doing things that bring you joy for no reason other than you want to.”

2. Invest in yourself and your community

Support yourself on your journey of growth. What tools do you need to be successful? Prioritize what you need most whether that means taking a class, watching an online lecture, carving out time to work on that project you shelved or rewarding yourself with a new professional headshot.

Feed your passions. Look toward your community and see how you can show up for them — do you have an extra hour every week to tutor a student, do you know an elderly neighbor who might appreciate an extra conversation?

3. Support Black owned businesses

4. Learn about Black leaders and Black history

Learning more about Black heroes —including those whopioneered the Black Joy movement— can be inspiring and educating for everyone. It can help shed light on the past, provide greater context into how we got to where we are today and motivate us to move forward. The people that inspire you from the past don’t have to be celebrities or well-known leaders, either. Family history is important as well.

“Take a few moments to learn your own family history, and while you’re at it: take the time to honor your resilience in spite of generational trauma!”

5. Embrace your full self and influence others to do the same

Self love might sound cheesy, but it’s significant. No one’s perfect and everyone carries their own set of challenges and insecurities, but it’s important to appreciate yourself for where you are. Give yourself a pat on the back, you’re doing great.

“Start the conversation of self-love early and often with your children. Purchasing or renting books on the beauty of Blackness is an excellent way to start the conversation. You can then transition to age-appropriate but historically accurate books on our heritage. Our children deserve to develop in a world that embraces their whole selves.”

Mental Health Resources to Get Familiar With

If you’re on the hunt forresources that support BIPOC mental health, check out the organizations and resources below.

Black Joy is a necessary and important mode of resistance. There are many ways to experience and express Black Joy, but give yourself the permission to do it! Celebrating Juneteenth is an important reminder of Black history, celebrations of Black independence, and continuing learning, but beyond this day and month, continue to care for yourself and the community with frequent moments of joy and support throughout the year.

Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.

Articles contain trusted third-party sources that are either directly linked to in the text or listed at the bottom to take readers directly to the source.

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