Letter from the Editor

Let’s be honest, things are tense. Everytime we turn on the news, scroll through social media, or just look outside of the window, we are bombarded with the reminder of political and societal turmoil. I realized that most of the conversations that I am having with myself and others, as of late, center around healing from systemic trauma and pursuing holistic wellness. Whenever I see a friend or a family member, these questions spring up in my heart: How are you really doing? How is your spirit? How can I support you? What care do you need? Are you well? Sometimes the answers are clear and succinct. Other times, we search for the answers.

Living in and witnessing a society that is increasingly violent and oppressive against Black and Brown folks has pushed us to seek care strategies for ourselves and the community of people that surround us. At The Beautiful Project, one of our key approaches to our work is rooted in care. We do this work to learn how to navigate hostile and unjust spaces as Black girls and women. We work hard to implement transformative care strategies, for the individual and the collective.

This Journal issue focuses on the notion of wellness and healing for Black women and girls. We are interrogating the nuances of self-care, recognizing that self-care has become a superficial buzzword these days. While taking time to take care of oneself is necessary and important, we are also exploring the necessity of collective care and the journey to pursue wellness and healing together, as a community.

It is our hope that you will find solace in the words and images throughout thesepages and the inspiration to take the time to practice care for yourself.

Be Well,

Khayla Deans, Co-Editor