May 29, 2023 – As we walk through our Black professional and personal lives, we face structural and institutional racism. This historical and lingering Pandemic perpetuates an unhealthy and unsustainable environment that daily attacks our Black mental well-being, De Sousa & Varcoe, 2021. But, as disheartening as it may be to watch some of our community and allies stand silently complacent, take reassurance that many are intentionally advocating as intersectional activists refusing to standby and allow the overshadowing of Black Excellence – both past and present, to be muddled down by the historical Western Eurocentric norms. For decades, the data continues to highlight that race is central to identity for Black Americans and the importance of connecting. 

As we close out this 2023 Mental Health Awareness Month, I implore you to recognize the importance of establishing your Black community within and outside your professional lives to have a healthy and thriving lifestyle. A community of like-minded Black Excellence, and when I refer to this term, I am not saying Black Exceptionalism, but instead, establish a balanced portfolio of resources that will allow you to transform your mood from negative to positive. Surrounding yourself with an array of positive Black energy, feelings, and people is essential.

#MentalHealthAwareness #MentalWellness #BlackLivesMatter #RacismIsAPandemic #Racism #MooreOnHealth #NPMoore #NursePractitioner

Racism Research Sources:

De Sousa, I., & Varcoe, C. (2021). Centering Black feminist thought in nursing praxis. Nursing Inquiry, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12473

http://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2022/04/14/race-is-central-to-identity-for-black-americans-and-affects-how-they-connect-with-each-other/

http://www.urban.org/urban-wire/say-african-american-or-black-first-acknowledge-persistence-structural-racism

http://www.bestcolleges.com/celebrate-black-excellence-at-work/