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By: Alexandria Morgan
Freddie Gray. Sandra Bland. Eric Garner. Philando Castile. Michael Brown. Ahmaud
Arbery. Breonna Taylor, and now George Floyd; with more members of the black community becoming victims to police brutality in the US, now we say enough is enough and we are fighting for rights more than ever. But when does fighting for our rights do more harm than good to our mental health?
With social media showing rampant images of children tear-gassed and innocent men and women falling victim to harmful and brutal police attacks during protests, it’s difficult to feel angry when your fellow brethren are dying and injured right on your phone screen. While it’s important to speak your truth, voice your concerns and stand up to a system filled with prejudice and systematic oppression, it’s important to take priority of your mental health and know when to stop those countless hours of scrolling. That’s when meditation comes in to relieve your mental anxieties. Whether in the daytime or nighttime, inside or outside,
meditation will bring your mind the serenity and inner peace from the stressors of social media.
As the war for social justice intensifies, it’s hard for the black community to feel any inner peace without knowing that countless black men and women are dying, injured, or tear-gassed to fight for equality. To release this tension, we protest, march and rally; and for those who cannot attend the protest, we angrily spew our emotions through Twitter, Instagram posts, and show our solidarity for black businesses through donations and canceling out white businesses in favor of black-owned businesses. For many, this brings a huge mental satisfaction; while this is true, this satisfaction at most lasts a few hours. The bigger question is: why do we allow our mental health to go down a downward spiral? Why do we allow ourselves to see brutal images daily? Why do we ignore our health? Unfortunately, this is a question that even I can’t answer for myself. I, myself, amongst many others have felt so much pressure and tension from the negativity of the media that we all forget to just sit down, relax, and take time for ourselves. However, I feel it’s necessary to direct my attention elsewhere; I do this with meditation.
20-30 minutes of silence, no technology, and stillness allows your mind to wander. There’s a
calmness when you breathe in and out, steadying your breathing from the anger and hurt that enters your body. There’s an instant release when you take a breath as you exhale through your mouth. You feel your heartbeat softly and steadily. There’s a cooling sensation that takes over your body. Your head feels lighter. Your tension headache is gone. A small tear streams down your face. You feel free! Meditation is power. This was realized when psychologist Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons heard the stories of black men, women, and college students experiencing the death of a loved one through police brutality.
“It was 2016 and there was a summer-long onslaught of publicized murders of Black people,
including Philando Castile in front of his girlfriend and her child. I had been closely following
the accumulation of news stories about the brutality toward and murder of Black people since the death of Trayvon Martin in 2013, but terrorism and violence against Black people was not new,” the Spelman graduate noted. “I figured if I needed it, other Black people might also benefit from having it too,” she continued.
Through this, the Black Lives Matter project was born. For Hargons, it wasn’t so much the inner peace as it was hearing the stories of the black community united together in one space. Candice Crowell, a professor at the University of Kentucky, confirmed this truth.
“The BLM movement has been a healing, affirming balm and a catalyst for me, as a researcher, professor, and healer,” she said. “I incorporate activism into all of these roles because I remain inspired by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi’s work, as well as the many leaders in this movement. Their courage is empowering and world-changing.”
Affirmations, messages, spiritual healing create a positive within the black community. With the lack of sacred spaces, meditation is the main form of communication that unites a broken community. It heals a broken soul, lifts many from the years of oppression, and teaches patience and concentration. So grab some calming oil, incense, a yoga mat, and take a deep breath!
It's easy to get caught up with the demands of social media; we all want to contribute to the cause, and we want to see change. We’re doing great, but we still have a long way to go. With the countless donations, petitions, emails, and calls, we’re making terrific strides since that of the Civil Rights Days. Be proud of your accomplishments, you deserve it! However, don’t forget that you come first! So, before you mindlessly scroll on Instagram and tire your mind with negative comments and photos, remember to breathe in and out. Stretch. Put on your Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. Stretch. Most importantly, remember Sandra Bland. Freddie Gray. Trayvon Martin. Eric Garner. Michael Brown. Philando Castile. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. George Floyd. Say their names!
Sources:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/this-blm-meditation-can-help-people-cope-with-the-tiring-cycle-of -oppression_n_59089aade4b0bb2d0871e5ac
https://blavity.com/this-black-lives-matter-meditation-is-an-enduring-tool-for-dealing-with-racial-tr auma?category1=Wellness&subCat=news
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