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Black America Web
5 days ago
- General
- Black America Web
Softness Is Sacred: Why Juneteenth Is A Reminder For Black Women To Rest
Source: Courtesy of Joce Blake / Courtesy of Joce Blake Living in Denver opened my eyes to the true significance of Juneteenth. While it might sound surprising, the Mile High City hosts an extensive Juneteenth celebration in Five Points, a neighborhood with deep Black roots. It was there, amid the vibrant festivities, that I truly began to grasp the holiday's importance. Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, provides a powerful opportunity to examine the vital need for rest and restoration. This observance aligns seamlessly with the burgeoning Black women's wellness movement. It champions self-care, mental health, and spiritual healing as essential tools for resilience and liberation. A growing number of Black women are reclaiming their time and energy through the intentional pursuit of rest. Because the truth is, the 92% is tired. Doulas are guiding mothers with compassionate care. Therapists are providing safe spaces for processing trauma and building emotional strength. Spiritual practitioners are leading individuals towards inner peace and holistic well-being. These practitioners are not simply offering services. They are advocating for a fundamental shift in how Black women approach their lives. They are actively challenging societal expectations of constant productivity and self-sacrifice. Instead, we want to embrace softness, joy, and restorative practices. Above all, the notion of rest as a reparative practice is particularly significant considering the historical and ongoing challenges faced by Black women. Centuries of systemic oppression, coupled with the everyday microaggressions and societal pressures, have taken a toll. Rest, therefore, is not simply leisure. It becomes an act of resistance and a powerful step towards healing. By prioritizing our well-being, Black women are honoring their own needs. We are laying the foundation for a more sustainable and fulfilling future. Juneteenth serves as a poignant reminder of this ongoing journey towards liberation. Markedly, both personal and collective, softness and joy are seen as sacred components of a life well-lived. Ahead, find some brilliant Black women doing the work to make sure we understand that rest is a right and not a reward. First and foremost, the founder of The Nap Ministry, she frames rest as resistance—teaching collective napping workshops and soul-care rituals that challenge burnout culture, especially in Black communities. As the founder of Black Girl Magik, she holds ancestral, spiritually rooted sister-circles for Black women, focused on joy, healing, and communal vulnerability. An ordained Zen priest and author, she leads mindfulness practices through Zen-based meditation and teachings—emphasizing radical self-care, fearlessness, and spiritual softness. Then, we have the founder of Therapy for Black Girls. She offers culturally affirming therapy that normalizes emotional rest, boundary setting, and therapeutic self-reflection for Black women. An Osun priestess and host of A Little Juju, she guides spiritual baths and ancestral rituals, nourishing joy and healing through African Traditional Religions. Next, we have a reproductive justice strategist and health equity researcher. She uplifts rest and joy as essential components of maternal health through writing, advocacy, and modeling restorative practices. Spiritual life coach and author of African Goddess Initiation and Sacred Bombshell . She creates rituals celebrating self-love, pleasure, and spiritual empowerment for women of color. Significantly, this mother of four is a birth/postpartum doula who integrates mental wellness, spiritual guidance, nutrition, and intuitive healing for whole-person care. Last but not least, organizations like Ancient Song Doula Services, Bronx Rebirth, and the Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood integrate rest, dignity, and spiritual joy into prenatal and community care. SEE ALSO Softness Is Sacred: Why Juneteenth Is A Reminder For Black Women To Rest was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Chicago Tribune
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Juneteenth in Chicago: Ric Wilson, line dancing and Ashanti
Juneteenth is more than just a holiday. It's a celebration of freedom, community and the rich tapestry of Black culture that continues to shape Chicago and the rest of the country. This year, the city is embracing that spirit with an eclectic array of events that honor the past while creating space for joy, connection and artistic expression. From line dancing celebrations that bring generations together to experimental musical and sensory experiences that push creative boundaries to all-night silent discos, Chicago's Juneteenth offerings focus on community-building in the present and reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the Black experience in all its forms. If you're looking for something a little different, consider 'Freedom Lullabies.' Presented by The Nap Ministry and the experimental Black orchestral group D-Composed, Freedom Lullabies is dubbed as a 'rest experience' melding revolutionary text with the sounds of Black composers. During the event, the D-Composed string quartet will perform selections from a number of Black composers while Nap Ministry founder Tricia Hersey reads the words of figures like authors bell hooks and Zora Neale Hurston. The audience is encouraged to rest during this dual performance while taking in the words of liberation. This event is intended for members of the African diaspora. Guests are asked to bring yoga mats, blankets and other items that provide you've been living under a rock, you've likely seen the 'Boots on the Ground' line dance take over social media. Superstar Beyoncé even features a quick clip of the accompanying track by 803Fresh during her ongoing 'Cowboy Carter' tour. Now, you'll get the chance to learn and dance to this new classic Black line dance along with other favorites like The Wobble, Cha Cha Slide, Tamia Line Dance and the Electric Slide during this two-hour dance party and dance class. Guests are encouraged to let loose in this inclusive celebration of Black rhythm, joy and and Gen-Xers are sure to get a kick out of this mega concert featuring some of the most beloved names in late '90s and early 2000s R&B and hip hop. Chicago success story Donell Jones is sure to rock the house down with his Classick R&B kickback tunes like you know what's up. I'm particularly excited for the latter acts, Mya, Lil Kim and headliner Ashanti. In their prime, all three made distinctly catchy and vibe-shifting music that defined youth culture at the turn of the millennium. Fans who may have missed them live while they were teens will surely get a special treat seeing them here. For a jam-packed Juneteenth, this late-night show is a perfect cap to the Chicago hip hop act Ric Wilson's rise has been steady and sure. It's no surprise that in recent years, listeners both inside and outside of the city have latched on to his sound. Wilson is deft at blending his easygoing flow with earworm-like beats. Many of his tracks are pure dance floor fodder, the sort of tunes that are meant to set the room on fire and keep the energy bumping throughout the evening. That's why this special Juneteenth set is sure to be a delight for audiences. Anticipate tracks from his latest album, 'America Runs on Disco,' which is set to drop the very next day. Prepare to community across the diaspora during this unique Juneteenth celebration centering collective Black freedom and cross-cultural music. Featuring DJ sets by Calid B, Nick Jones and Dyaspara, this special and free edition of SupAfrique will feature drinks, dancing, food and fun. Arrive early to receive a free portrait from photographer Sulyiman Stokes, whose work homes in on the vastness and humanity of Black life. According to event organizers, Stokes aims to document what freedom looks like, a fitting mission for any Juneteenth because it's a silent party doesn't mean it won't be a good time. That's the goal of the silent 'Freed Up, Turnt Up' party. Presented by Urban Fetes, this special Juneteenth silent dance party will have three channels featuring trap, R&B and twerk-focused music. Whether you're looking for a chill and downtempo groove or an all-night sweat fest, this party is sure to make your Juneteenth week of festivities one to remember. And no worries about not having the right equipment — headphones are included with every ticket.
