You Need Black Joy: Journeys to Mental Wellness by Healing Environments and Practices

You Need Black Joy: Journeys to Mental Wellness by Healing Environments and Practices

By Lela M. Winston

A 2019 study found that toxic stress ages black children causing negative developmental effects. That work was expanded in a 2023 Harvard University report revealing MRI evidence of psychological damage caused by racism. Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, a psychologist in the field of black mental health postulated that most black mental health problems stemmed from issues regarding racism. It affects both physical and psychological health from anxiety to high-blood pressure. Black Americans must find ways to heal and detox from a racial world. The pivot to black joy is essential.

Dr. Joy DeGruy, a sociologist and author of the book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome discovered that Black Americans suffer from intergenerational trauma and stress from racial abuse and slavery. The effects of trauma are passed from mother to child through genetics. Science from Cornell University found that stress/trauma can leave a mark on human genes —luckily this can be corrected. Black Americans need prolonged periods away from environments of high racial stress to repair the injury.

As a Black woman, I’ve healed extensively from the epigenetics of trauma by living in Africa for more than a year. The effect has been curative and helped me reimagine myself and the world. In my experience, 90-100 days begins the change in personal psychology leading to psychosocial detox. It is why I advocate for Black Americans taking retreats to Africa or the Caribbean to heal. Africa is not perfect and you may not like it—but the psychological room it gives you to re-evaluate your experience and detox is priceless. Occupational therapy science has found certain activity produces a phenomena called flow which helps to relax and mentally rejuvenate participants. I encourage Black Americans to visit Africa and join me for  deep discussions, activities of flow and a total detox of the mind and body.