Black People Reclaim Rest As Radical Resistance

From slavery to segregation to the modern-day grind culture, rest has often been withheld, dismissed, or framed as a luxury reserved for others.

But today, a growing number of Black people are turning that notion on its head, claiming rest not just as self-care, but as a radical, necessary act of resistance.

“Rest isn’t lazy. It’s revolutionary,” said Josie Pickens, a Houston-based cultural organizer and educator. “When we slow down and care for ourselves, we’re doing what our ancestors were never allowed to do. That’s powerful.”

For Pickens, reclaiming rest means confronting deeply ingrained beliefs about worth, productivity and survival. It means unlearning generational lessons that equate exhaustion with value and choosing to prioritize mental and emotional health in communities disproportionately affected by systemic stressors.