Mental Health Awareness: Black Fatigue

There’s a term I’ve been sitting with a lot lately: Black fatigue. Coined and deeply explored by Mary Frances Winters in her groundbreaking book “Black Fatigue,” it refers to the chronic emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that Black people experience from ongoing exposure to systemic racism. It’s the exhaustion that builds from microaggressions, erasure, workplace tokenism, and generational trauma. Winters defines it as something far more complex than just being “tired of being around Black people,” which, unfortunately, is the misrepresentation currently circulating on TikTok. That viral twist not only misses the mark—it risks diluting a term that was created to affirm and uplift those navigating very real, lived experiences.

During BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial that we keep the integrity of this language intact. “Black fatigue” isn’t a joke or a meme—it’s a mirror reflecting the truth many carry silently. Naming it helps create space for healing, for rest, and for real conversations about justice and wellness. As someone who lives at the intersection of cultural pride and emotional awareness, I find power in clarifying and reclaiming our narratives. Let’s continue to honor the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable—and let’s keep carving out room for collective healing, reflection, and joy.