In the dynamic and often challenging world of the criminal legal system, Black women leaders stand as pillars of resilience, strength, and wisdom. Their indispensable leadership shapes policy, advocates for justice, uplifts communities, and inspires the next generation of changemakers.
Unfortunately, the leadership journey can come at a cost to the personal and emotional well-being of Black women leaders who work in the criminal legal system because the work is both professional and personal. Most Black women leaders personally know loved ones and friends who are directly impacted by the system because of the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal legal system.
The work does not necessarily end at five or six o’clock because it is a part of their lived experiences outside of work. Therefore, it is critical for Black women leaders to center their wellness. If we fail to nurture and replenish ourselves, we cannot effect positive change in our offices, communities, or the world-at-large.
For me, as a Black woman in several leadership roles, that means intentionally centering my own personal wellness and joy to sustain my social justice work. One without the other undermines both, and I am at my most professionally efficient and effective when my personal house is not just in order but thriving.
The simple truth is that when we are well, our families and communities are well, but the wellness journey many Black women leaders undertake is littered with speed bumps and roadblocks, engineered to delegitimize their qualifications and steal their joy.
Consider, for instance, the weight of historical trauma Black women shoulder, the lived reality that influences their work and personal lives. Recognizing and addressing this trauma is a vital component of wellness, especially in the criminal legal field where the vicarious stress of navigating an overburdened system fuels burnout and enables apathy.
We, as Black women leaders, must seek out spaces that foster reflection, healing, and strengthened resilience to ensure our energy matches our intentions. Maybe we find that in therapy or professional affinity groups or any number of culturally specific wellness practices, but pretending it isn’t necessary only depletes our reserves.
Leadership within the criminal legal field demands a relentless commitment to advocating for change, but this pursuit must be balanced with self-care to prevent burnout and ensure long-term effectiveness.
We may be months removed from Juneteenth observances, but commemorating the two-and-a-half-year delay in alerting slaves in Texas that their bondage had been federally abolished encapsulates the ceaseless journey toward freedom and justice that Black women leaders assume when they choose careers in criminal law. In this context, embracing wellness is not just about personal health but is integral to their effectiveness and impact.
Most importantly, choose progress over perfection when those walls start closing in and paralysis takes hold. Ask yourself, “What’s one step I can take to get things moving?”
Stop and feel what you’re feeling—the emotions of it—and then get back on the horse. But remember that true justice does not require that we sacrifice our wellness in pursuit of equity and justice for others.
