Transparent & Black: Sparking a Movement for Black Healing
By: Michael A. Tennant
Tags: Healing, Mental Health, Wellness, Trauma, Black Lives Mater

I’m often asked how I found the inspiration to create a card game that teaches people about bias. I say that I’ve always been open to looking inward for ways to improve, regardless of what I might find.

The last 12 months of looking inward have taught me to find and investigate my traumas. An idea I will continue to explore; and one I will continue to share with Black and Brown communities and beyond.

Because past the pain lies purpose, passion, and pleasure, as I am continuing to find out.

Empathy For Those Who‘ve Experienced Trauma

Have you ever seen someone you love bleeding from a gunshot wound? Have you ever been told you didn’t deserve a job or spot in a school because of your race? Have you lived your life without ever having a loving relationship with either of your parents? Or two or more of your grandparents? Have you ever felt sadness or shame because you aren’t sure where your lineage comes from?

I have. If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions I offer you empathy, because you too have experienced trauma.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Trauma is real for many Black people in America. As forced migrants from the continent of Africa through slavery, we’ve been victims of a bloody, centuries-long struggle for equal access and opportunity for physical, societal, economic, and mental freedom and safety.

We grow up experiencing overt and microaggressions. Many times externally originating. And many times originating right in our own homes. Trauma experienced for so many generations that it would almost be deemed normal.

This is paired with a loss of written and oral culture, as many of our elders (mine included) were so eager to rise above their past that they forgot to mine those experiences for the stories that illustrate the resolve it took for them to survive.

The resilience that we’ve developed is a superpower. One used to overcome inequalities that still exist; as well as the challenges that we all face.

Yet too little attention is placed on this disproportionate burden that our Black and Brown people face.

A Movement Of Voices For Collective Healing

As societal attention has been forced inward to what we value most. Health, well being, and community. I am proud to be a part of a movement of Black and Brown voices, and their allies, contributing to collective healing.

My card game, Actually Curious, is a tool for spreading empathy. But it’s also secretly a gateway drug to talk therapy. For $25 and the intention to be vulnerable, it helps people to tell stories that need to be told in order to heal.

My personal journey through healing has led me to renewed confidence, passion, focus, and purpose.

I need money for the machine to work. But my motivation is to use my skills, access, and resources to positively affect issues of access and knowledge around mental health in Black and Brown communities.

The long term reward is in the lives I affect. And that pays dividends today when I meet amazing partners like Transparent & Black.

Image Source: Camille Shaw for Transparent & Black

Wellness Is Not Something New to Black People

In their words, “The global wellness market is now valued at $4.75 trillion. Many of the ingredients, spiritual rituals, and wellness practices that the industry benefits stem from BIPOC communities. We need spaces where we can unlearn this idea that wellness is something new to Black people. Our history shows us that we acted as healers, doctors, midwives, and spiritual guides long before wellness had a name, and we need spaces to honor that work and feel empowered to explore the necessary physical, mental, emotional, spiritual work needed.”

All boats rise with the tide. Supporting Black healing means more unity, collaboration, and focused energy toward our shared values.

The need and the demand for Black healing spaces and products exist. And we know from years of the velocity of investment in wellness, with healthy profit returns, that the market for investment also exists.

One strategic partnership with the right brand or organization could finance all of Transparent & Black’s funding needs while reaping returns in content, engagement, sales, and brand love.

Allyship is the easy part. Removing barriers to yes is where you need to begin.