I’ve expanded my understanding of how people use their suffering, particularly in Black mental wellness, to find meaning in their lives. Humanity has creatively used this to effect social change and improve collective wellbeing. At Intentional Simplicity LLC, we encourage exploring different perspectives on social systems, including personal, relational, and institutional, which contribute to harmful realities. By acknowledging and addressing these realities, we can enhance the human experience, creative process, and inclusive communities.

How Creativity Shapes Mental Wellness

A few months ago, I explored an article on David Drake, an enslaved ceramic artist and poet, which offered deep insight into the individual experiences of slavery. The author’s discussion of the antebellum social climate revealed how social hierarchies and skill constructs were used to dehumanize Africans.

David’s identity and social standing depended on his natural gifts as an (enslaved) African American man. I noticed that gender, intellect, and spiritual beliefs all influenced how his ceramic work was interpreted. Moreover, the inclusion of African archetypes enhanced the legacy of the artist DAVE and of ceramics as a whole. In particular, the spiritual beliefs of African ethnic groups shaped community hierarchies through shared purpose, rather than through the oppressors’ imposed labels.

Cultural Expression as Resistance

In addition, the belief that African women were often skilled potters reflected a cultural lineage of creativity and strength. Qualities and energies given from the earth were viewed as sacred, similar to the magic of blacksmiths during this time. Thus, both potters and blacksmiths held tremendous creative force within their communities. The shared belief that blacksmiths and goldsmiths were divine gifts to a community is affirmed by the earth’s element, fire.

Art in Healing

Furthermore, exploring encrypted messages in the lyrics of Negro spirituals revealed another layer of cultural intelligence and healing. The primary vehicle of communication among enslaved Africans was music. There were many reasons for this, but the most impactful was the toleration of music by enslavers. Consequently, spiritual songs became a safe and creative way to build community without causing physical harm to plantation workers. Decoding these encrypted messages required problem-solving and collective thinking, linking creativity with survival.

The legacy of these spiritual folk songs is deeply biblical. For instance, the Underground Railroad was connected by themes of safety and communication that moved from one community to another. The power of music spread across the South, showing the ripple effects of sound, affirmation, and linguistics as forms of creative intelligence, mental wellness, and social belonging. Ultimately, singing became a vital form of expressing what could not safely be said aloud.

Black History and Mental Wellness

Additionally, the sense of belonging and connection built through shared suffering becomes a psychological bridge for shifting old paradigms and sparking social change. In many ways, Watkins (2019) reminds us that healing is not just personal; it is communal. Their work highlights how communities strengthen mental and cultural wellness while individuals learn to recover from the weight of oppression, tragedy, and trauma.

Likewise, the impact of social constructs on marginalized bodies has been deeply documented. For example, Wagener (1989) described how the dress reform movement in Western Europe during the 1830s revealed both the physical and mental restraints placed on women. Brands were reimagining clothing to support women’s health and motherhood. At that time, corsets were seen as the chief enemy of wellness, often challenged by women physicians, athletes, and artists who understood how shaping the body to meet a standard was, in itself, a form of psychological harm.

From a personal standpoint, living with intellectual and invisible ‘dis’abilities often means my needs are overlooked. I have learned the importance of creating spaces that feel psychologically safe and culturally aware. These spaces allow me to express my neurodiversity through creativity, affirmation, and advocacy. Ultimately, being a pioneer in my practice means leading with my lived experience, turning what once felt unseen into a source of truth, purpose, and healing for myself and my community.

---

Five Ways to Intentionally Celebrate Black History as a Black Person

1. Set boundaries around what documentaries and movies about Black history, cultural figures, and events you consume. Our linked fate creates a physiological response to what we are viewing.
2. Attend wellness and compassion-based local events and activities that honor Black people today.
3. Spend time honoring your identity and expression go black culture. Being you is not always easy. How can you show yourself some love and appreciation for being alive?
4. Take part in healthy and progressive conversations about black mental wellness and black history. Your friends, family, and a colleague are not experiencing the same world as you are, so take charge of how you want to show up. You deserve to feel comfortable, grounded, and empowered about your future.
5. Locate, research, and support black-owned businesses and organizations dedicated to preserving and celebrating the truth of black people.
   
   Reminder: Black people are not invisible. By honoring the souls in your community, you create space to see people for who they are and not simply based on their skin color. There are black people in the past and black people in the future. Make room for connection.
   

References

David Drake, enslaved ceramic artist and poet.de Groft, Aaron (1998). Eloquent vessels/poetics of power: The heroic stoneware of Dave the Potter.Race and Ethnicity in American Material Life. 33 (4), 249-260.

Wagener, M.L. (1989). Fashion and feminism in Fin de Siecle Vienna. Woman’s Art Journal.

Watkins, M. (2019). Mutual accompaniment and the creation of the commons. (G. A. Bradshaw, Contributor). Yale University Press.