Why Juneteenth Is a Reminder for Black Women to Rest

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’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.

Tricia Hersey (“Nap Bishop”)

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.

Shydeia Caldwell

As the founder of Black Girl Magik, she holds ancestral, spiritually rooted sister-circles for Black women, focused on joy, healing, and communal vulnerability.

Angel Kyodo Williams

An ordained Zen priest and author, she leads mindfulness practices through Zen-based meditation and teachings—emphasizing radical self-care, fearlessness, and spiritual softness.

Joy Harden Bradford, PhD

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.

Juju Bae

An Osun priestess and host of A Little Juju, she guides spiritual baths and ancestral rituals, nourishing joy and healing through African Traditional Religions.

Nicole V. Jones

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.

Abiola Abrams

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.

Brandi Rahim (Heal You Whole You)

Significantly, this mother of four is a birth/postpartum doula who integrates mental wellness, spiritual guidance, nutrition, and intuitive healing for whole-person care.

Birthworkers United & Collectives

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.

Softness Is Sacred: Why Juneteenth Is A Reminder For Black Women To Rest  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com