This Wellness Wednesday: Black people are not here to prove our worth now or ever.
In response to the UK Far Right riots & widespread racism
We know that self-care and wellness is more than manicures or eating vegetables. When our race and culture is under attack, our self-care goes beyond the surface.
While sadly we are accustomed to racism, the Far Right racist riots and attacks that swept through the UK have been a brutal reminder that there are ‘some people’ who will never accept us.
I have been a mix of angry, frustrated and tired. So, so tired of the feeling that here we are again being treated as if we have to prove that Black people are good enough and deserve to be in the UK.
I don’t need to tell us (Black people) how good we are. We know what we have achieved. We are educated, building careers and businesses. Above all, we hold our lives and families together, while dealing with daily lived experiences of racism and still while making contributions to every part of the UK’s society.
Our wellness starts with knowing we have nothing to prove
From all of this, I’ve concluded that we don’t have to keep on proving that Black people are good enough. This is part of the strategy with racism – to make us feel like we’re nothing and to start doing less, wanting less for our lives. Then we start taking up less ‘space’ in society and achieve nothing. I think you’ll agree with me that isn’t going to happen. We are good enough and don’t have to prove anything to the racists.
So, for this Wellness Wednesday I hope you’ll join me in saying “I have nothing to prove and I am and always will be good enough”. Keep the promise to yourself that no amount of racism will ever make you think you have to prove your worth or existence ever again.
Stay Safe, Blessed & Well.