Honoring Black Labor on Black History Month: A Legacy of Work, Rest, and Joy

Black labor has been at the heart of history, shaping America and the world in ways that are profound and immeasurable. For centuries, our ancestors worked—sometimes by force, sometimes by necessity, always with resilience. From the fields of enslavement to the factories of industrial America, from raising the children of this nation to organizing for economic and social justice—Black people’s labor has built communities, powered economies, and transformed lives across the U.S., Africa, and the Diaspora.

Our labor has not only created wealth and opportunity for others but has also been a catalyst for progress, equality, and change. The sacrifices of those before us paved the way for each generation to live a fuller, freer life. Their work wasn’t just about survival—it was about laying the foundation for joy, growth, and possibility.

But as we honor their labor, we must also honor their legacy by prioritizing our wellness. Too often, the expectation placed on Black people has been to push through exhaustion, to carry burdens without complaint, and to prove our worth through constant labor. It is time to reclaim something just as vital: our right to rest, to joy, and to ease.

Rest is revolutionary. Joy is an act of resistance. By prioritizing our well-being, we challenge the systems that have historically demanded our labor without care for our health. Taking care of ourselves is not laziness—it is liberation.

Here are ways to engage in rest, joy, and pleasure to support mental wellness:

• Rest without guilt: Sleep, meditate, and take intentional breaks. Your body and mind deserve it.

• Engage in creativity: Write, paint, dance, or express yourself in ways that bring you peace and happiness.

• Connect with community: Lean on those who uplift and nourish you.

• Embrace play: Do something purely for fun, without productivity as the goal.

• Seek healing: Therapy, spiritual practices, and self-reflection can help process generational burdens and cultivate inner peace.

  
  

As a Black therapist, I urge us to hold space for our healing as fiercely as we’ve held space for our work. Let us celebrate the resilience of our past while building a future centered on wellness, rest, and joy. We are worthy of every dream our ancestors dared to imagine for us—and more.