By identifying and embracing the totality of their feelings through Social-Emotional Learning and by seeking critical resources, Black women are on the cusp of a mental health reawakening
As a Black woman living in America, it seems you’re allowed to only be two things: the overly passionate, independent “Mad Black Woman” or the eloquent, resilient, overworked caretaker to all. While these perceptions are slowly evolving, there are still so many inauthentic depictions and archetypes of what a Black woman can be today. And while it shouldn’t be our burden, these labels—amongst the many others attributed to us—are often hard to bear.
How can we as Black women correct these negative misconceptions while also keeping sane, healthy and whole?
A first step is by understanding the theoretical framework at play, what experts call Social-Emotional Learning or SEL. SEL is a group of skills that one facilitates to build upon one’s emotional intelligence (EQ)—ultimately, how we are aware of our feelings and how we handle our relationships with others.
Primarily, there are five main components of SEL: Self-Management, Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making, and Relationship Skills. Through the intentional and mindful navigation of each skill set, the practitioner (i.e. you and me) can use their emotions to tap into—and be comfortable with—her simplest self, and be unbothered by the confining, false labels the world subjects us to. SEL is key to a healthy mindset.
So how does this apply to the Black woman’s journey back to her purest self? Well, at the nitty gritty, the goal is to reclaim and embrace our identity by tapping into the Self-Awareness and Self-Management competencies of SEL before we engage cultures and people outside of ourselves.
Once we get our footing in our core identity claims, it’s imperative to make responsible decisions about how we present to the outside world—to our friends, at work and school, in other areas we inhabit—our relationship with ourselves.
Honestly, you probably already practice SEL unknowingly. Things like signing up for life coaching or counseling, attending mental health seminars, and incorporating transformative life skills like yoga and meditation are all pathways of SEL that lead to robust emotional intelligence; a quick glance into your social circles shows that Black folk are increasingly accepting therapy as a legitimate mental and emotional aid instead of a stigmatized practice of the porcelain people’s influence (and honestly, it is about damn time!).
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What’s most necessary to Black women in this plight of social and emotional renaissance is that our experiences are validated and completely unadulterated by those who previously placed traumas upon us. Counseling networks like Therapy for Black Girls and platforms like Chrissy King’s The Mental Health Cost of Being a Black Woman in America in SHAPE magazine highlight our distinct cultural battles while also allowing the safe spaces to thrive. These culturally-rich opportunities draw attention to our struggles while also screaming to the people in the back that we are not tolerating disingenuous representation any longer.
As Black women reinvent and reclaim ourselves and our standards, it’s important to acknowledge that it’s going to be an arduous process, fo’ sho. Thankfully, it’s evident that the community is down for it. Several Black celebrities have stepped up to encourage SEL engagement through their platforms. Beyonce’s latest anthem, “Break My Soul” makes it plain, honey! It’s time to release the stress and forget the rest! Singer Jhene Aiko was named an ambassador for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in Los Angeles where she is hoping to create more pathways for young Black women like her daughter to deal with anxiety. Megan THEE Stallion recently launched “Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too,” a mental health platform that offers links to free therapy organizations, suicide, and substance abuse helpline among other resources. The list of Black Women advocating for their own SEL stretches from Aunty Michelle to Nicki Minaj, and this is because the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) for the Black woman’s renaissance is a necessity.
Whether purposefully or by simply being their natural Black ass self, Black women are constantly reinventing the Social-Emotional understandings of our beautiful cultures and eclectic personalities. In reclaiming the unfiltered, uncensored nuances, expressions, and representations for herself, the Black woman is undoubtedly affecting societal shifts through SEL.
Attached to these perceptions, of course, is the Black Woman’s approach to correct the miseducation. Whether purposefully or by simply being their natural Black ass self, Black women are constantly reinventing the Social-Emotional understandings of our beautiful cultures and eclectic personalities. In reclaiming her own uncensored nuances, expressions, and representations, the Black woman is undoubtedly affecting societal shifts for herself, her community, and ultimately, the world at large.
