Why Taking a Sabbatical is a Radical Act: Black HERstory
Happy Black History Month!
It’s Black History Month, and I want to celebrate the radical power of rest for Black women. Taking a sabbatical has not only changed my life - it’s given me the opportunity to help hundreds of Black women to experience rest and sabbaticals for themselves. The constant pressure to be a superwoman is not just exhausting; it's harmful and extremely toxic on our bodies and our minds.
In a world that demands Black women's constant labor, taking a sabbatical is an act of revolution.
We know that America has been profiting from our endless labor since the beginning. "Keep working, keep serving, keep pushing through…" - I’m saying NO to a rhetoric that wants to drain every drop of our magic.
A Look at Black Women Who Chose Themselves:
This isn’t a new concept.
Maya Angelou spent years in Ghana during the 1960s. Her time in Africa wasn't just about writing—it was about healing, discovering herself beyond America's narrow definitions, and finding community that celebrated her wholeness. In her words, "The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."
Toni Morrison found creative sanctuary in Europe, where she wrote portions of her masterworks away from America's draining racial dynamics. Her sabbaticals weren't luxury—they were necessity, allowing her genius to flourish without the constant weight of American racism.
Sometimes, you need more than a weekend getaway – you need a whole new perspective. I’m strongly under the belief that a sabbatical can do just that.
If you’re familiar with my platform, you know I help everyday Black women take a sabbatical. (This newsletter is a way that you’ve helped Black women rest. The profits from 6 Minute Sabbatical fund the Vaycarians Sabbatical Fund, which has given more than $55,000 to Black women to date. Thank you.)
Don’t think it’s out of reach for you because you’re not a literary giant or celebrity.
Let’s look at some women like you and I who have made the leap:
Nubia Younge left her corporate job in 2017 for what was supposed to be a short stay in Mexico. Now? She's built a whole new life abroad and runs Chronicles Abroad, helping other Black women make the same leap. Through her platform, she's shown us that sometimes what looks like a "break" can turn into your breakthrough.
Then there's Sienna Brown, who traded NYC's hustle for Spain's flow. She didn't just move – she created Las Morenas de España and Master Your Move Abroad, building a community that helps Black women transition to life overseas. Featured in Forbes, she's proof that choosing yourself can lead to building something bigger than you imagined.
These women remind us that sabbaticals can be springboards to entirely new ways of living.
But What Does This Mean for You?
When you take a sabbatical, you're not just taking a break. You're:
- Healing from all those meetings where you had to be "professional" while dying inside
- Making space to dream bigger than your current reality
- Getting back in touch with your soul's desires
- Seeing what life could be beyond these borders
I know there’s often a lot of pushback, and the world won't make it easy. They'll call you selfish. Irresponsible. Unrealistic. But remember: your rest threatens systems designed to extract maximum value from your labor. Your peace disrupts the status quo. Your joy is justice.
This Black History Month, I want you to know that your ancestors didn't just dream of freedom from physical chains – they dreamed of a freedom that would let their daughters and granddaughters live. Live fully. With the kind of rest that prioritizes your soul as much as your body.
If you've been feeling that pull to step away, to explore, to just BE, know that you're not alone. Your sabbatical isn't just a break – it's your declaration of independence.
Start planning your escape and let’s be revolutionary together. 💫
With love and ease,
P.S. For Black women living this truth, drop your stories in the comments – you never know who needs to hear them.
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The 6 Minute Sabbatical helps Black Women Take a Break
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