A framework known as “Healing Justice” shows society how to address and prevent intergenerational trauma and violence in a holistic way. It also outlines group activities that may be used to influence and change the effects of oppression on our bodies, minds, and emotions as a collective.
Various groups of people and organizations committed to the cause of healing justice are acutely aware of the need to understand mind-body-spirit health especially for Black people (and people of color). Examining the long-lasting wounds caused by the historical and current attack on African American wholeness is vital. These wounds include physiological, psychological, and emotional effects that have their roots in the history of enslavement. Comprehensive solutions that address racial disparities, socioeconomic factors, and psychological trauma are required, and the African American community’s resilience must be acknowledged.
It is impossible to imagine the significant effect of personal health and well-being on a person descended from one of the 12 million humans transported across 4,000 miles or more over the Atlantic, let alone comprehend what it would mean for them in their everyday lives. The notion that African Americans ought to receive healing and well-being ought not to be contentious or necessitate lobbying. What it would be like for African Americans to experience a balanced neurological system, a supportive mind, a physically healthy body, and a nurtured soul after generations of adverse effects on their well-being.
The conviction that Black communities will flourish when institutions and healing systems facilitate the discovery of Black wholeness. The American system must be fixed; Black individuals are not broken and do not require curing. Nonetheless, there is a need for tools and assistance to promote a regenerative community based on mental, physical, and spiritual health.
Healing Justice for Communities of Color
A social justice concept known as “healing justice” acknowledges the connections between more significant movements for equity and freedom and individual and societal healing. It aims to address the systematic and historical trauma that marginalized communities—especially communities of color—have endured. The concept of healing justice is based on the understanding that societal injustices cause psychological and physical harm, and that healing is a political and personal process.
Black or African American
Black is the preferred term for describing a person’s race. The term should be used as an adjective, not a noun, and capitalized. While African American and Black are not often synonymous, they are acceptable terms. While African American refers specifically to Americans of African heritage, Black can be used by anyone, regardless of nationality. While some Americans identify as both, others prefer one term over the other; still others may favor a different but related phrase (such as Afro-Caribbean or Afro-Latino). When describing someone, it is best to utilize their chosen self-identifier.
Aspects of Black Culture: Links to Health, Wholeness, and Well-being
Collective
Community plays a critical role in improving mood and reducing stress and anxiety in Africa and the Diaspora. It is more than just interacting with people. People in close-knit communities can share experiences, take comfort in one another’s company, and rely on one another through trying times because of their strong ties. The community’s tremendous effect on mental and emotional health is attributed to various factors, including the depth of cultural tradition, the generational flow of wisdom, and the sense of belonging from belonging to a group.
Joy and Laughter
A significant and fundamental part of the human experience is joy. It is essential since it makes us resilient and generally feel good. It can uplift our spirits, enhance our emotional and mental well-being, and promote interpersonal relationships. Joy stimulates our imagination, keeps us motivated, and motivates us to follow our passions and aspirations. It inspires us to cherish the fleeting moments that give our journey real significance and reminds us that life is more than just getting by. Furthermore, Black Joy is innovative!
Another cultural mainstay is laughter, which has numerous health advantages and is a human phenomenon. It acts as a natural analgesic, causing the body’s endogenous painkiller, endorphins, to be released, which effectively relieves pain. Laughter is a powerful immune system booster that supports the body’s ability to fight off illness. After a brief phase in these physiological reactions, laughter causes muscles to relax and blood pressure and heart rate to stabilize, all contributing to a calmer, more relaxed state.
Dance and Music
Numerous cultures have deep roots in dance, a powerful way to improve mood, promote cardiovascular health, hone cognitive performance, and lessen stress and anxiety. Humming is a technique that can help with breathing, nervous system calmness, and stress relief. Swaying motions, on the other hand, improve balance and body awareness and promote proprioception. Rhythmic movement and artistic expression in the colorful tapestry of African-rooted civilizations provide these mental and physical equilibrium pathways.
Singing, song, and music—drawing from the rich musical heritage of African, African Diaspora, and African American cultures—effectively promote overall well-being. These artistic mediums address physical, emotional, and cognitive requirements while offering catharsis and acting as therapeutic agents. Music can evoke deep emotions, a beautiful talent that allows people to release pent-up sensations and find comfort in the melodies. A critical factor in fostering general emotional and mental health is music.
Spirituality, Faith, and Ancestral Memories
Integrating spiritual ideas with traditional African healing traditions offers a comprehensive approach to well-being. These spiritual and cultural components are essential to holistic well-being, healing, and a sense of wholeness. They nourish the soul and strengthen the bonds that bind people to their cultural and ancestral roots. A sense of commitment, deference, and reverence to a higher cause amplifies spirituality, which includes connection, community, and emotions of well-being.
Reverence for the divine is the source of spirituality’s fundamental resonance and its other encompassing qualities of connection, community, and an overall profound sense of well-being. A deeply ingrained habit, ancestral recollection creates a strong continuity and connection between people and their cultural history and ancestors. This memorial service can empower people and bring significant healing, strengthening their identity and belonging.
Ancestral memory-building creates a link and continuity with one’s lineage and cultural history, which has the potential to be empowering and therapeutic. Rooted in African spiritual beliefs, traditional African healing practices, including herbal medicine and divination, entail connecting with the spiritual realm to promote healing and well-being, offering a comprehensive approach to health.
These components are not the only features of Black culture.
Black Culture
Culture is a deeper part of who we are than our behaviors and methods. Poetry, dance, music, and songs should all be used to express our ideals as a people rather than only for amusement. Culture is a method of thinking, and the African must distinguish between his way of thinking and the way he was forced to think to survive while he was an enslaved person in the United States. Culture is how people arrange themselves, think, feel, and view the world to support and benefit from one another’s success.
The Relationship Between the Mind, Body, and Spirit
The three pillars of holistic health care are mind, body, and spirit. It is predicated on the idea that your body does not just determine your physical health and welfare. What matters is how your life’s mental, emotional, and physical aspects interact. Your spirituality might also be influenced by your religion, or it can just be your morals, convictions, or philosophy of life. The imbalance of any one of these elements can negatively impact your health.
Holistic health care should address all facets of your life, including your surroundings, social conditions, way of life, and personal priorities. Their broad emphasis enables them to offer tailored “whole person” care. Spirit, body, and mind are interconnected. Medical practice is an art as much as a science.
The mind has a profound impact on the body. For instance, stress can cause emotional turmoil, increase blood pressure and blood sugar, increase pain perception, and disrupt sleep. However, mindfulness or meditation might be beneficial. Reducing pain, depression, and even strengthening your immune system are all possible benefits of mindfulness.
Closing Thoughts by Doc T Elliott
It is important not to just focus on your physical health but to consider your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Healthcare providers should get to know you and your life by providing individualized advice and assisting you in utilizing the mind-body link to achieve optimal wellness. Whole person, or holistic health, is becoming increasingly popular nationwide. For Black men, we must be mindful of our entire self—mind, body, and spirit!