Black Women Say It’s Time to Rest 

By Veronica Mackey

“The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.  The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman.”—Malcolm X

Out of the ashes of defeat, disappointment, and discouragement over recent election results, Black women in America are banning together to take back their power by focusing more on themselves and each other.  It’s a spontaneous, organic, leaderless movement, based on the decision to collectively stop supporting other racial and gender groups and agendas—primarily white women.

It’s called the Rest Era, and it’s fueled by feelings of betrayal by white women who vowed to fight with them against racist practices and restore abortion rights in Republican-leaning states.  Before the election, white women gave lip service to supporting Democratic Candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, but a national exit poll by CNN showed that 53%of them voted for Republican Donald Trump instead. That same poll showed that 92% of Black women voted for Harris, compared to 45% of white women and 60% of Latinas.

President-Elect Trump has vowed to end or repeal Obamacare, reinstate racial profiling by police through the stop-and-frisk practice, and execute mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, among other policies.  Additionally, he is considering a national abortion ban.

“Why do we keep screaming, ‘equality, equality, equality’ when they don’t want to be our equals?” one woman asked in a YouTube video titled, “Black Women Rest and Mind Your Business” by Your Wellness Era.  The channel owned by Tiffany Celeste advocates for self-care.

From Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman to Fannie Lou Hamer, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, and now Kamala Harris, Black women have championed the rights and causes of literally every marginalized group in America, including, civil rights, economic equality, affirmative action, voting rights, abortion rights, police reform, and same-sex equality.  They have helped to pave the way to achieve access to the many liberties that people have today.   With so many gaining from their support, yet abandoning them in the polls, Black women have taken off their “marching boots,” choosing to narrow their focus on themselves, their families and other Black women.  

So, what does this mean for the rest of America?  Don’t count on Black women to show up in force at your rallies, or donate their time to your causes.  The attitude now is to let others fend for themselves.  They tried to warn people about the dangers of a second Trump presidency.  Now, they want to be left alone to mind their own business.

While Latinos cite the economy as the reason they voted for Donald Trump, Black women and some other Latinos say they missed the big picture.  A vote for Trump is a vote against their own interests.  Instead of tariffs punishing other countries, as Trump has implied, they will actually backfire and hurt consumers.  The economy will get worse under Trump.

The Rest Era is about more than political and community engagement.  It is an extension of the collective need to take a break from being the sole breadwinner, nurturer, advocate, and struggling career woman.  It extends to self-care, letting go of the Superwoman façade. One woman in Celeste’s video cautioned viewers not to “help Becky,” (a nickname for white women) fix the copy machine at work.  Do only what you’re paid to do and go home.  

“Clock out for the rest of the year.  I want us to be radical about our rest.  We’ve done what we need to do,” Celeste said, addressing Black women “who feel discouraged and are tired of being let down.  It’s time for Black women to take off their capes.  It’s time to rest and let someone else step up to the plate.”

This election has been a lightning rod of division – not just between Harris and Trump supporters, but within families, among friends, co-workers, church members and classmates.  Trump has successfully helped to divide this nation even further than before, pitting blacks against Latinos, men against women, and the educated against the uneducated.  

While the “rest” metaphor may suggest withdrawing from political engagement, it’s not about retiring.  It’s about being more intentional about who to trust and who to help.  Time will tell if the Rest Era is a temporary reaction to the recent election or a movement that grows to the level of Women’s Liberation.  Regardless, opting out of political turmoil to protect your mental and emotional health is something more women—regardless of race—should do.  There is a lot to be said for making yourself a priority.  The best way to demonstrate your value to others is to first value yourself  It’s a new era for Black women, a resurgence of the sisterhood.  I’m so here for it.