An Affirmation

...for Black people navigating toxic spaces...

So many Black people I know have been working tirelessly to dismantle systems of oppression. Sometimes this is in social impact spaces ranging from education to environmental justice. Sometimes this is in corporate spaces ranging from DEAI roles to engineers. We are often fighting for ourselves and for others. We are often fighting for the changes we want to see in society. We recognize that fighting for ourselves inherently improves conditions for others. We never asked for this additional labor, but we inherited it. For a myriad of reasons, we often feel a responsibility to improve these systems, organizations, and companies that have caused us harm.

We show up again…and again…and again...

Eventually we notice our physical and mental health is impacted. We notice our personal lives are impacted. We “pick ourselves up”, compartmentalize, and we keep going. Our labor often remains invisible, but we keep showing up. Occasionally we are celebrated for our “strength”. Internally, we begin to resent that we have to be “strong” to be seen.

In the last several years, I have noticed a shared sentiment between all of us:

We are tired exhausted.

I wrote this affirmation for myself recently. I shared it with a few other Black leaders in my life and they asked me to share it here. So here it is– an affirmation and a reminder. If you need it, I hope that it finds you in time. I hope you find rest. I hope you find deep peace.

An Affirmation

I am prioritizing my peace.

I recognize the violent reality that white supremacy has constructed.

I am removing myself from carrying the weight of fixing it. I am not investing my time, labor, emotions, or my body into fixing systems that were never built to protect me.

I am divesting my energy from these institutions and redirecting that energy into my own healing and the healing of my communities.

I am actively imagining, creating, and living in the future that I want to experience.

I recognize my energy is powerful and transformative. I am discerning with how I share it.

I bless and honor my ancestors who spent their lives fighting— sacrificing themselves to be seen with a sliver of dignity in a racist country that was literally built on violence. I bless them. I bless their blood on the soil of this country. I pray for their peace in the spirit realm. 

I set them free as I free myself. I will not be making the same sacrifices. I will not sacrifice my life fighting for a system that never loved me. 

I am pouring my energy into my own peace.

I am pouring my energy into spaces, people and communities that embody love.

I am giving generously in spaces that value reciprocity.

I am sharing from a foundation that is spiritually sound. I trust that all I create from this foundation is sustainable and contributes to our collective liberation.

In this season, I am choosing to rest. This choice is not because I have given up or because I don’t care. 

I am choosing this because I do. 

Pursuing my peace is my protest. 

It is in the pursuit of peace that we access new dimensions. It is in our peace that we can find and create new worlds. 

That’s where you can find me. 

Áse.