History in the Making 

In the states, it’s women’s history month, and we are witnessing history in the making; the first African American Woman nominated for the supreme court. 

Her accomplishments are impeccable. Her experience surpasses those of all the current supreme justices. One can only imagine the pride she’s feeling. Yet, sadly the year is 2022, and only now can we witness this moment. 

In my native country of Haiti, the first woman judge appointed to the supreme court was Ertha Pascal-Trouillot in 1988. 

As women, we are familiar with having to do more than men. But as Black women, the added burden of racial discrimination makes the journey to the heights of success painful.

The persistent impact of racism, racism-induced stress, on Black people, on Black Women, is clearly demonstrated in the hearings. 

If you’re a Black woman educated in predominantly white schools in the US, worked in a primarily white space, the expressions of Justice Katanji Brown Jackson are very familiar to you. 

“Code-switching” is a gentle term for suppressing your natural existence. It’s the inability to express your natural and appropriate response after experiencing “micro” aggression. Going against your natural reflex of expressing your hurt of having your value dissected, your worth questioned, despite your hard-earned accomplishments, despite being a human being is not permitted. 

Racism-induced stress has a psychological and physiological impact on the body. The increase in cortisol raises your blood pressure, reduces your gut’s ability to digest, and decreases immune response. Prolonged stress shortens your life span. And if you’re a woman who’s pregnant or who plans to birth a baby, the stress you experience in your life will impact the DNA expression of your daughter and your granddaughter as well. 

Four Facts about Racism Induced Stress

“Micro” aggressions have the same impact as overt experiences of racism. 

Watching someone experience racism creates the same response in your body. 

Thinking about past experiences generates a real-time stress response in your body. 

And anticipating the experience of discrimination generates a real-time stress response as well. 

What can we do as Black and Melanated women to live under these circumstances?

Here are some strategies you can implement:

• Make self-care and your wellbeing your number one priority in your life. 
• Create a circle of support that includes
  1. A Black therapist or therapist of color whose practice includes somatic work; No matter how experienced or excellent a non-Black therapist is, unless they have done decolonization work, you will ultimately come up against the limits of their skills due to racial conditioning. Stress is not just a psychological experience; it’s a physiological one. Experiences imprint memories in your organs, which also respond to stress. 
  2. A spiritual healer or advisor: Having guidance from someone who reminds you that you are part of a more significant entity bigger than yourself, supports your spiritual wellbeing and a sense of purpose. 
  3. Healthy friendships: Having at least one supportive relationship soothing your nervous system calms your nerves. 
  4. Engagement in a hobby; When you have fun, do an activity that you love, releases oxytocin and other supportive hormones that promote wellbeing. It also counters the effect of stress. 

The rate of anti-racism work happening is not at the pace needed to support our well-being. It is up to you to take the initiative to protect your psychological, spiritual, and emotional well-being.