Why Are Black Women Struggling with Inertia?

The opposite of overwhelm is not action but stillness—a deliberate pause, an embrace of inertia. Yet, for Black women, inertia feels elusive, even impossible, despite its promise of potential. Inertia is not nothingness; it holds the quiet potential for movement, waiting for the right force. So why is it so hard for Black women to embrace this state, especially amidst the collective exhaustion that defines so much of our experience?

The recent presidential election results serve as a poignant example. The outcome left many Black women heartbroken, experiencing Kamala Harris’s defeat as a deeply personal loss. This grief resonated like a collective mini-death, mirroring the daily emotional toll exacted by systemic injustices at the intersection of racism and sexism. Every encounter with microaggressions, overt and covert racism, and sexism compounds this weight, creating a sense of constant mourning—mourning not just what was lost in the election, but what is continually lost in a society that devalues Black womanhood.

Amid this overwhelming burden, the antidote is not more productivity, more resilience, or more self-improvement goals. It’s the opposite—it’s rest, stillness, and even inertia. Yet operationalizing inertia feels almost antithetical to how Black women have been conditioned to move through the world.

Scroll through any social media feed, and you’ll find memes and affirmations urging Black women to rest, to unplug, and to disengage. These messages offer comfort, but their execution often feels unnatural, even counterproductive. The resistance to rest, to vulnerability, and to stillness is deeply embedded in the psyche of Black women, stemming from centuries of oppressive social conditioning.

For generations, Black women have been socialized to equate their worth with their ability to endure—to carry the weight of the world, solve problems, nurture others, and show up even when their reserves are empty. This conditioning has not only dehumanized Black women but has also embedded a resistance to inertia as if stillness were synonymous with failure.

The Root of Resistance

This resistance is further compounded by societal stereotypes and controlling images that have historically defined Black womanhood. From the Mammy—the loyal, devoted caretaker—to the Jezebel—hypersexualized and immoral—to the Welfare Queen—lazy and irresponsible, these controlling images are not merely representations; they are tools of oppression. They influence how Black women are treated, how they internalize these perceptions, and how they navigate their identities in resistance to these stereotypes.

To counter these harmful archetypes, Black women have collectively crafted and embraced the Superwoman Schema. This framework demands that Black women present themselves as strong, self-reliant, and self-sacrificing. While this schema has been a survival mechanism and a source of pride, it has also come at a steep cost. It prioritizes others’ needs over one’s own, suppresses vulnerability, and erodes mental and physical health.

The same racist and sexist systems that necessitated the creation of the Superwoman Schema are the ones that resist Black women’s rest. They perpetuate the idea that Black women’s value lies in their productivity, their ability to endure, and their constant motion.

Reclaiming Inertia

To move beyond these harmful narratives, Black women must rewrite the story of what it means to be strong, capable, and whole. True strength lies not in constant motion but in the ability to pause, to rest, and to reclaim humanity. Embracing inertia is not laziness; it is an act of defiance against systems that demand unrelenting labor and emotional sacrifice.

This reclamation requires a profound cultural shift. It means rejecting societal pressures to always be “on” and embracing the freedom to be authentic, vulnerable, and human. Rest must be seen as a necessity, joy as a radical act, and stillness as a form of resistance.

Reclaiming inertia also requires navigating the discomfort of stereotype threat with grace. It’s about prioritizing mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being alongside physical health, redefining success not through the lens of productivity but through the lens of self-preservation.

A Lifelong Practice

This journey is not easy. It requires intention, courage, and deliberate prioritization. It means challenging the internalized belief that stillness equates to failure. It means reclaiming rest, joy, and connection as essential, not optional. Most importantly, it means redefining inertia—not as a void but as a bold, restorative pause filled with the potential for transformation.

There is immense power in embracing the state of simply being. In that stillness, we discover the inspiration to confront complex challenges, fulfill the deepest desires of our hearts, and cherish the beauty of life’s seemingly ordinary moments. It is within this sacred pause that we tap into the energy needed for transformative action. Inertia is not emptiness; it is a vital and necessary stillness.

For Black women, this embrace is more than rest—it is an act of resistance. By stepping away and granting ourselves the grace to simply exist, we begin to dismantle the oppressive narratives that have long shaped our identities. This redefinition allows us to reclaim the freedom to be, without expectation or burden. Embracing inertia is not merely a form of self-care; it is a radical act of liberation.