May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and for many in the Black community, this month is more than a campaign—it’s a call to reclaim our wholeness. We are living in a time that is challenging, as we watch the attempted systemic deconstruction of our history and all that makes us who are. During these times, it is essential to remember that mental health doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s interwoven with how we think, how we feel, how we carry ourselves, and how we connect with something greater than us. It’s time to speak boldly about taking care of ourselves—not just surviving, but thriving.
Let’s explore what it truly means to care for our mind, body, and spirit—intentionally, unapologetically, and from a place of cultural pride and ancestral strength.
Mind: Breaking the Silence and Rewriting the Narrative
Mental health in our community has often been clouded by stigma and silence. We’ve been conditioned to be strong, to endure, to “keep it moving” no matter what. But carrying pain in silence doesn’t make us strong—it makes us weary.
This month, let’s normalize mental wellness. Seeking therapy or counseling isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a courageous act of self-care. Mental health professionals who understand our cultural context can help us unpack generational trauma, manage stress, and rediscover peace. Even if therapy isn’t accessible right away, writing in a journal, naming our emotions, or engaging in honest conversations can be powerful first steps.
Let’s give ourselves permission to feel without judgment—to grieve, to rage, to hope, to rest. We are not just surviving—we’re learning to heal out loud.
Reflection:
- What thoughts or beliefs about mental health were you raised with?
- What do you need to unlearn to give yourself room to heal?
Body: Honoring the Vessel That Carries Us
Our bodies hold memory. They carry the stress of our daily lives and the history of generations past. Sometimes, our body feels tight, tired, anxious—and we don’t even know why. That’s why physical wellness is essential to mental health.
You don’t have to run marathons to be well. You can walk. You can stretch. You can dance to your favorite song in the kitchen. You can rest. Our ancestors may not have had the luxury of rest, but we do—and we must claim it as a birthright.
Feeding our bodies nourishing foods, drinking water, sleeping well, and moving with intention are ways to say: “I love you” to the only body we’ll ever have. And when we feel good physically, it impacts how we show up mentally and emotionally.
Reflection:
- What does your body need today—movement, stillness, nourishment, hydration, or rest?
- How can you offer that without guilt?
Spirit: Tending to the Soul and Rooting in Legacy
Spiritual wellness connects us to something bigger than ourselves—whether it’s God, ancestors, nature, or the quiet wisdom within. For Black people, our spiritual roots run deep. We are a people of faith, resilience, and ritual. Spiritual care grounds us and reminds us that we are never alone, even in our hardest moments.
This might look like prayer, meditation, singing spirituals, sitting under a tree, reading sacred texts, or lighting a candle in remembrance. It’s not about religion, but about relationship—with self, community, and the Divine.
In a world that tries to disconnect us from ourselves, nurturing our spirit is a revolutionary act of remembrance and resistance. It helps us find meaning, reclaim joy, and walk in purpose.
Reflection:
- What spiritual practices give you peace?
- How can you build space in your week to reconnect with what nourishes your soul?
We Deserve to Be Whole
Black wellness is radical. It challenges systems that thrive on our exhaustion. It resists narratives that say we must be everything to everyone. It demands that we prioritize ourselves—not as an afterthought, but as a foundation.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, let us choose to show up for ourselves fully:
- Let us listen to our minds without shame.
- Let us care for our bodies with compassion.
- Let us feed our spirits with truth and grace.
Let’s check on each other—not just with “how you doing?” but with “how’s your heart?”
Let’s rest, resist, and rise.
You deserve joy. You deserve peace. You deserve care.
You are not broken—you are becoming. And you don’t have to walk this journey alone.
In Her Honor 