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.
Generations of fatigue
Black Americans carry centuries of inherited fatigue. From forced labor and racial violence to discriminatory housing, healthcare and employment systems, rest has always been out of reach. That strain continues today through economic precarity, over-policing and the pressure to perform, especially for Black women and LGBTQ+ individuals of color.
Kevin Anderson, CEO of The T.R.U.T.H. Project Inc., understands that burden all too well.
“I was constantly pouring into everyone else, until I had nothing left,” Anderson said. “I experienced burnout, poor mental health and honestly, I didn’t know how to stop.”
That experience, coupled with years of community organizing and conversations with Black Houstonians, inspired Anderson and co-curator Pickens to start A Vibe Called Rest Fest, an immersive wellness event now in its second year.
“This is about building a culture where rest is normal, expected, even sacred,” he said.
One of the core beliefs behind the movement is that rest isn’t just individual. It’s communal.
“We often talk about self-care like it’s something you do alone, with candles and a journal,” said Pickens. “But for us, care has always been collective. We heal in community.”
That principle was embodied at this year’s Rest Fest, where participants engaged in guided meditation, yoga, sound baths, journaling and panel discussions, all designed with cultural specificity and emotional safety in mind.
“There was a moment where everyone was dancing together in joy,” Anderson recalled. “That’s rest too. That’s healing. That’s us reclaiming our time, our bodies and our connection.”
Unlearning grind culture
Both Anderson and Pickens point to “grind culture” as a significant obstacle to rest. The constant need to do more, be more and prove more often comes at the expense of wellness.
“I grew up hearing that rest meant you were lazy,” Pickens said. “Even when I was pregnant and in medical crisis, I was told to keep moving. That mindset almost killed me.”
Instead of glorifying hustle, Pickens now prioritizes listening to her body, setting boundaries around work and creating space for stillness.
Anderson agrees.
“Choosing rest is a daily act of resistance,” he said. “It means saying no to a system that only values you for what you produce. It means saying yes to your health, your spirit and your community.”
Beyond the practices of rest, the movement also centers storytelling as a tool for connection and healing.
“Storytelling lets people know they’re not alone,” said Anderson, who directed the award-winning short documentary And We Rest on Giants. “When we share our experiences, we dismantle stigma. We create permission.”
“Just breathe,” Anderson said. “Reclaiming your breath is the first step. You don’t have to do it all at once. But you do have to believe that you’re worthy of rest.”
