🖤 Why Juneteenth Is Also a Call to Rest: Honoring Freedom Through Wellness
- Felicia Prince
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
Revived Soul Wellness
💬 No One Is Free Unless Everyone Is Free.
As we honor Juneteenth—the day enslaved Black people in Texas were finally told they were free—we must also hold space for the unfinished work of liberation. Juneteenth is more than a historical marker. It is a sacred reminder of what it means to be free—and of all the ways we still seek freedom today.
In this moment, we are watching the ongoing criminalization of immigrants, the separation of families, and policies that uphold borders over humanity. Black immigrants, undocumented folks, and asylum seekers are facing brutal conditions—many of which are sanctioned by the very systems that claim to champion freedom.
This is not justice. And this is not liberation.
We cannot claim freedom while our kin are caged. We cannot celebrate Juneteenth without acknowledging that the fight for freedom is global, intersectional, and still deeply unfinished
For Black and Brown Professionals, Rest Is More Than a Break—It’s a Revolution.
Juneteenth reminds us of a deep truth: freedom is our birthright, even if it’s delayed, denied, or distorted.
But what does freedom look like in your nervous system?
For Black and Brown professionals, especially first-gen leaders, rest often feels like a luxury—not a right. We’ve inherited the grind. We’ve internalized “earn your worth.” But you don’t have to hustle for your humanity.
For Black professionals in NYC, Boston, and across the country, the legacy of overworking, caretaking, and high-achieving often comes at the cost of our health, rest, and emotional well-being. Even with degrees, promotions, and titles, many of us still carry the generational message: “Keep going, no matter what.”
But freedom means we get to stop.
At Revived Soul Wellness, we believe rest is a portal to liberation.And that liberation includes joy, stillness, boundaries, and unlearning the generational messages that keep us overworking and under-healing.
What Does Freedom Feel Like in Your Body?
At Revived Soul Wellness, we offer therapy rooted in the belief that rest is resistance. For many of our first-gen and BIPOC clients, Juneteenth is not just about looking back—it's about reclaiming what has always belonged to us: wholeness, softness, joy, and breath.
Here’s what we invite you to consider this month:
“You don’t have to hustle for your humanity.”
🧘🏾♀️ Try This: A Liberation Breath Ritual
Take five minutes to honor Juneteenth in your body:
Sit quietly with one hand on your chest and the other on your belly.
Inhale for 4 counts. Exhale for 6.
With each exhale, silently say: I release what I no longer carry.
Repeat 5 rounds.
Close by saying aloud: I honor my ancestors by choosing rest.
🎧 Soundtrack for Freedom: A Juneteenth Rest & Liberation Playlist
A healing blend of soul, reggae, gospel, and affirming anthems to support your breath, body, and joy.
Reflection Prompts for Juneteenth
What does rest mean to me beyond sleep?
What part of me believes I have to “keep going” even when I’m tired?
How would I move through the world if I truly felt free?
What part of me is still afraid to rest?
How has my body been asking me to slow down?
What generational message around work or rest am I ready to release?
How do I define freedom—not for my people—but for myself?
🗣 Ready to Reclaim Your Rest?
Revived Soul Wellness offers virtual therapy across New York, Georgia and Massachusetts.We are now in-network with Aetna in NY, GA and MA and currently accepting new clients.
📌 Final Thought:
This Juneteenth, let’s remember that liberation is collective.Let’s rest, not as retreat, but as radical resistance.
Because none of us are free until all of us are free.
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