In the latest episode of 6.5 Minutes With…C21, C21 Graduate Fellow, Jamee Pritchard, interviews Charmaine Lang, Ph.D, a certified healing centered coach and organizational development consultant, about her work on slow care.
Lang defines slow care as intentional pausing and community support, a practice she observed in her dissertation research on Black women activists in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She emphasizes the importance of self-care practices like meditation, therapy, and journaling, and acknowledges the difficulty Black women face in asking for help due to societal expectations. Charmaine supports her clients avoid burnout by encouraging them to meditate and reflect on their needs to foster their healing journey.
In Our Mother’s Gardens (2021), directed by Shantrelle P. Lewis
To further explore topics covered in this podcast episode, we recommend In Our Mother’s Gardens (2021), directed by Shantrelle P. Lewis. This 2021 Netflix documentary highlights how Black women have passed down love, wisdom, and resilience through their matrilineal lines, emphasizing how they care for themselves and their communities despite enduring trauma and oppression. The film features stories from Black women across the African diaspora, particularly in the United States and the Caribbean, showcasing how these women have preserved their mental, spiritual, and emotional health through practices rooted in cultural traditions and communal care.