NSCC Library: Anti-Racism Resources : Self Care and Healing from Racial Trauma

Definitions

Racial Trauma: "Racial trauma is one term used to describe the physical and psychological symptoms that people of Color often experience after being exposed to stressful experiences of racism (Carter, 2007)...And, these racism experiences never exist in isolation; racial trauma is a cumulative experience, where every personal or vicarious encounter with racism contributes to a more insidious, chronic stress (Carter, 2007)."

https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/lynch-school/sites/isprc/isprc-advisory-board.html

Self-Care: Self-care is the active participation of enhancing your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and quality of life.

https://www.wright.edu/student-affairs/health-and-wellness/counseling-and-wellness/workshops-and-self-help/self-care

Race Based Trauma Resources and Support in Times of Civil Strife
A toolkit with resources on healing from racial trauma , including recommendations for mental health resources, meditations, readings, podcasts, movement, and resources for allies. .

Read

#BlackHealingMatters in the Time of #BlackLivesMatter.
While there is much written about the work being done to challenge the anti-Blackness of the state, less is written on the internal work that Black folk are doing in the name of healing justice. Much of this work is just getting off the ground, like the Healing & Safety Council (HSC), also known as the holistic human resources team of the Black liberation organization Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100). We, BYP100's Healing & Safety Council, have decided to come together and document the work we have been doing in the name of Black liberation. What follows is a staged conversation that is both scholarly and poetic, inviting the reader to engage this piece as we have had to engage the work of Black healing, repair, and transformative justice. In this conversation, we focus on BYP100's mobilization of a Black queer feminist lens to create a Black politic that holds at its core Black healing and a radical ethic of love

The Racial Healing Handbook by Anneliese A. Singh
Publication Date: 2019
Healing from racism is a journey that often involves reliving trauma and experiencing feelings of shame, guilt, and anxiety. This journey can be a bumpy ride, and before we begin healing, we need to gain an understanding of the role history plays in racial/ethnic myths and stereotypes. The Racial Healing Handbook offers practical tools to help you navigate daily and past experiences of racism, challenge internalized negative messages and privileges, and handle feelings of stress and shame. You'll also learn to develop a profound racial consciousness and conscientiousness, and heal from grief and trauma.

Subversive Self-Care: Centering Black Women’s Wellness
This article explores the idea of the strong Black woman and breaks down the need for centering the experiences and mental health of Black women who often bear the burden of anti-racism work.
Self-Care Tookkit
Tool-kit of self-care resources from the Talking About Race project from the National Museum of African American History & Culture
Filling our Cups: 4 Ways People of Color can Foster /mental Health and Practice Restorative Healing

Listen

Therapy for Black Girls
The Therapy for Black Girls is a weekly podcast that discusses mental health, personal development, and decision making. It is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.

Summer Reading List for Young People at a Time of Crisis
Amid dual national crises of a pandemic and outrage over racism and police brutality, books provide opportunities both to learn more and to find distraction from reality. Jeffrey Brown talks to writer Jason Reynolds, the Library of Congress’ ambassador for young people’s literature, about summer reading lists for youth that fit the current moment.
*Many of these titles are available through your local public libraries!

Mental Health Resources for Young People of Color

Mental Health Resources for Young People of Color
Maintaining mental health is important and seeking help can be necessary to stay healthy. On this page, OnlineCounselingPrograms.com has assembled a variety of mental health-focused content and resources to support young people of color.