More Black-Ass Naps in 2021
Welcome to the 83rd installment of This Black-Ass Life! With a new year brings new resolutions and ours is to be better about resting. We’re excited to dedicate today’s newsletter to hoping you take a damn nap!
Don’t forget: We've managed to grow this list thanks to y'all forwarding to friends so please keep it up! Forward this link to subscribe to five friends. And send us topics you'd like to see covered, texts from your Black-ass people, and any Black-ass anything from around the world and web.
I. The Facts
It is a miracle we all made it to 2021. Celebrate yourself and give yourself the gift of rest.
Black people do not sleep as much as white people and when we do sleep, it’s a poorer quality rest. This has dangerous implications for our physical and mental health.
We also work harder and longer hours, and are often asked to do additional work because of our identities. Whether you do that additional work or not, the ask itself can be exhausting.
You deserve to rest. First because you need to take a damn nap. And second, because your naps disrupt the destructive cycle of capitalism and white supremacy.
Why does it matter?
In a 2017 newsletter on Sleep, we wrote about why rest is so important to our health: researchers have found that sleep deprivation may be one of the causes of a host of diseases and mood disorders including hypertension, diabetes, high blood pressure and bipolar disorder.
It gets worse: neurologists found that short-term sleep deprivation seriously impairs cognitive functions in otherwise healthy adults and has a profound negative effect on the immune system.
There is also a link between lack of sleep and chronic fatigue syndrome, psychosis and long-term memory loss.
What can my Black ass do?
Day dream.
Nap.
Sleep for longer hours.
Here are ten science-based tips for taking the “perfect” nap.
Try this Lay Back/Relax playlist from The Nap Ministry
If you can, Venmo The Nap Ministry for their efforts reminding Black-ass people to REST.
ll. Other Things
What do we call people who aren’t barbs but stan Nicki’s baby?
Shocking to witness this trend of whites facing consequences for bringing disease to Black countries. Fun!
Look at this pure of heart baby using his own money to buy bikes for children in his community.
Mama Minaj put her baby in the tackiest lil outfits and we love him and her for it.
Auntie Shonda did not disappoint with this horny AF but dumb AF show. Pull out method propaganda was strong on this one, but I (Jumoke) highly recommend only because Zimbabwean Regé-Jean Page is intensively attractive.
We love Bey’s 2020 recap video. She, Ms. Tina, dem babies and Chloe x Halle lived their best lives despite 2020’s fuck shit.
We hope you all enjoyed gaining your powers during the Negro Solstice.
Full agree: put monuments up acknowledging and celebrating the strength of enslaved people and Black abolitionists.
Our Black-Ass song(s) of the week (Jumoke):
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Jumoke) look forward to prioritizing breathing, sleep and rest in 2021.
I (Mitu) look forward to new movie releases from the comfort of my couch. Shout out to Tenet showing studios that we will not gather in theaters.
lll. Text from a Black-Ass Mama
I (Jumoke) love my parents for many reasons, but I especially love their indefatigable optimism and their dedication to Black joy. Case in point: the two of them literally danced by themselves all New Year’s Eve until 7 in the morning.
Stay Black, thrive and dance/nap through 2021! We’ll hit your inbox next on January 18.