“Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done.” (This Black-Ass Life)
Welcome to the 59th installment of This Black-Ass Life! Whether you celebrate this three-day weekend as an “on” or “off” day, we hope you’re not hustling too hard. Inspired by Tyler Perry’s declaration that he’s written everything he’s created, this week we’re talking about the dangers of hustle culture so keep reading for why you need to let your Black-ass sleep!
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l. The Facts
Hustle culture will kill you.
Hustle culture is an obsession with striving where one’s self-worth and life is defined only by professional and career accomplishments.
It is the capitalistic idea that one always has to be on and producing. Those who subscribe to hustle culture brag about not taking breaks, not sleeping, skipping meals, etc.
Social media has exacerbated the rise of hustle culture. Memes, celebrities, and high achievers actively broadcast the best, inauthentic, overworked versions of themselves, making many question their daily productivity output.
Hustle culture is a particularly troubling reality for Black people who often feel that by achieving, we can reach a place where our value as human beings can’t be questioned. <—— LIE
How many of us were told (and accepted) that working twice as hard as White people no matter the toll on our health and sanity was just something we had to accept?
Here’s some folks who have said and done unhealthy things in the name of the hustle:
In Kevin Hart’s docu-series, there’s a moment where his wife Eniko Hart tells him he hasn’t showered in 3 days. Y’all, this is a man who action-movie trains every day.
Steve Harvey tried to claim rich people don’t sleep and that eight hours will keep you from the bag.
Diddy used to have “No sleep” painted on the hallway at the Bad Boy offices. He also hosted the chaotic I Want To Work For Diddy show, which divorced contestants from the concept of rest. And remember when Da Band walked the Brooklyn Bridge to fetch Diddy a cheesecake?
Tyler Perry tried to flex on us by letting us know he single-handedly writes every show and movie he creates.
The Rock sacrifices two hours of sleep, only sleeping three to five hours a night, in order to exercise even more.
What can my Black-Ass do?
“You should hustle because you enjoy what you do, have personal pride and see a chance for progressing your career in it. But you should also be allowed to have time and energy to explore your non-work passions (exercise, reading, music, whatever it is) with equal hustle.” - Jay Lauf
Take time to yourself! Not every hobby needs to be a side hustle.
Sleep is GOOD FOR YOU. Ignore the next person who tells you to sleep when you die. I’ll take my sleep now, thank you!
II. Other Things
Thank you, Ayanna.
Your friendly, yearly reminder that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a radical whose politics scared white America.
Representative Ayanna Pressley spoke out about the personal being political, especially when it comes to Black hair, and opened up about her alopecia. And y’all, this look! 😍
I (Jumoke) think RHOA is GOODT this season. Also, we always forget that Porsha is a direct descendant of a civil rights icon.
Gayle King had to check a “historian” who claimed racism had nothing to do with Meghan Markle and Not-Prince-Anymore Harry’s exit.
I (Mitu) know I should be upset about the appropriation and clear attention grab here but LOL at the application of these wigs!
The palpable love the Obamas feel for each other is so beautiful.
Our Black-Ass song(s) of the week (Mitu):
Meg Thee Stallion and Normani came together for Birds of Prey and this video is gorgeous.
lll. Text from a Black-Ass Mama
My (Mitu’s) mama is always trying to get me to watch Rachel Maddow. Apparently the mafia is what will take down Toupée Fiasco.
Stay Black, thrive and watch Rachel in this new year. We’ll hit your inbox next on February 3.