“Do not be conformed to the patter of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (New International Version)
In my February article entitled The Criticality of Us, I talked about the ways that the essence of Critical Race Theory & Abolitionism have transcended time and space to create an intergenerational, interdisciplinary connection for social justice.
This month, I would like to focus on the multigenerational movement to center our mental health; embodying the proclamation by Audre Lourde’s that “Caring for [ourselves] is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Further, I contend that our caring for ourselves is also a form of spiritual warfare as seen in scriptures like when Jesus was asleep on the boat and his disciples called out to him for help during a storm (Mark 4:38). This act by Jesus is one of my favorites as it serves as a reminder that no matter how mighty we think we are, even our Lord and Saviour needed to rest.
With this next level of stress and chaos during the pandemic and racial reckoning, many of us are next level tired. However, there is a wave of change that is seeing many People of Color prioritizing our mental health and wellbeing–moving away from the trend of being “Booked and Busy.”
Since Black History Month just ended and we are welcoming Women’s History Month, I would like to feature a few multigenerational resources that are uplifting the mental and emotional wellbeing of Black, LatinX and Indigenous women.
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of resources by any means. Feel free to conduct your own search to gain access numerous resources that are restorative and educative in nature.
“I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
3 John 1:2
Prayers & Podcasts
These podcasts are chock full of valuable information and nuggets of wisdom to give you an added boost during the day. With that said, it is recommended that you talk with a trained therapist to gain even greater support and a variety of techniques to support your wellbeing:
Centering: The Asian American Christian Podcast
Thrive Spice| Asian American Mental Health
Mindfulness for Us
Another set of wellness related resources are those related to yoga and meditation. One of my favorite websites (of course Three-Fifths being another) is
Wellnesstraveldiaries.com. On it, you can find a list of 15 Powerful Yoga On Youtube Classes With Black Teachers. For opportunities to start or deepen your meditation practice, there are a number of meditation apps that are geared towards Communities of Color like EXHALE and the Liberate Meditation app. Additionally, The BIPOC Meditation Collective is a meditation community based in Boulder, Colorado. They currently host online gatherings via Zoom twice a month.
In closing, I leave you with a prayer from 3 John 1:2 “I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” Whatever practice you choose to support your wellbeing, may it be well with your soul and all of the souls to come.
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I dedicate this article to my late sister Jacqueline Renée Polk who died twenty years ago this February and in memory of Cheslie Kryst. Cheslie, a 30-year-old attorney, entertainment correspondent and former 2019 Miss USA, took her life on January 30, 2022.
We at Three Fifths Magazine respect and advocate for the lives and wellbeing of all of God’s Children.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There is also a crisis text line. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
By Dr. Kecia Brown
Three-Fifths 