Yaris Sanchez 10/30/24 Yaris Sanchez 10/30/24

Healing the Wounds We Inherit: A Reflection on My Grandmother's Hands

The traumas, injustices, and even unspoken burdens of our ancestors live within us, forming an unseen legacy that shapes our interactions, choices, and the way we navigate the world. Menakem’s work is both a call to awareness and an invitation to heal, a reminder that..

In Resmaa Menakem’s transformative work, My Grandmother's Hands, we encounter a profound truth that many of us instinctively know but rarely articulate: we carry history in our bodies. The traumas, injustices, and even unspoken burdens of our ancestors live within us, forming an unseen legacy that shapes our interactions, choices, and the way we navigate the world. Menakem’s work is both a call to awareness and an invitation to heal, a reminder that wellness extends beyond self-care rituals and into the difficult, often uncomfortable, realm of addressing internalized racism and inherited pain. This message resonates deeply because wellness isn’t a trend; it’s a birthright, rooted in the body and spirit and woven through generations.

Embodied Trauma: A Legacy We Carry

Menakem speaks about trauma as something that isn’t confined to the mind. It's alive in our flesh and bones, pulsing through us as a result of experiences we may never fully understand. Whether it’s the inherited anguish of marginalized communities or the unspoken fears passed down through familial lines, this embodied trauma demands acknowledgment. And yet, confronting this truth isn’t easy. To open ourselves to this knowledge is to face the stories our bodies have kept silent, the tensions we’ve normalized, and the patterns that unconsciously replay cycles of harm. But, as Menakem reminds us, the healing of our bodies—of all bodies—is a radical step toward dismantling racism in its most intimate form.

In a society where “wellness” often gets distilled into luxury products and easy fixes, Menakem's insights force us to reconsider. True wellness requires reconciling with the legacies our ancestors have lived and fought through, and it starts in our own bodies. This work isn't just for personal benefit; it’s for communal healing and a path toward liberation.

Complicity and the Path to Unlearning Racism

Menakem’s work demands that we examine ourselves and the role we each play within systems of oppression. It's uncomfortable, humbling work because it requires confronting the ways we’ve been complicit in perpetuating harm. To read My Grandmother's Hands is to grapple with the understanding that, consciously or not, we’ve internalized certain biases and behaviors. But acknowledgment is not where the work ends—it’s only the beginning.

Unlearning racism requires both the humility to recognize our flaws and the courage to change them. It means understanding that dismantling these biases is an ongoing process that asks us to be vigilant, accountable, and, perhaps most importantly, compassionate. This isn’t about shame or blame but about embracing the potential for change, even in our smallest actions. Self-care can be an act of justice when it encourages us to interrogate our own prejudices and commit to growing beyond them.

Yaris sat down with psychotherapist, trauma specialist, New York Times best selling author Resmaa Menakem for an in-depth conversation about his book My Grandmother's Hands Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies.
⁣⁣⁣In this conversation Resmaa Menakem touches on the racial divide issue in America, how to reclaim our inherent capabilities to heal, and how to as bodies of color reclaim our power. Tune in towards the end fora somatic meditation led by Resmaa Menakem. Thank you Resma! Forever grateful for the oppoprtunity!
Listen with intention and I hope you all walk away with new knowledge, perspectives, and coping mechanisms. I love you all. - Dalai Mama

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Healing Ourselves to Heal the World

Menakem outlines practices in his book designed to help us confront and release the trauma we hold in our bodies. These practices are not just therapeutic; they are revolutionary acts that bridge personal healing with the collective well-being. Breathwork, mindfulness, and somatic practices become tools not only for self-regulation but also for nurturing a world where all bodies can feel safe and whole.

Wellness is about more than just the individual. When we heal ourselves, we extend that healing to our communities. This interconnectedness is essential; as we learn to listen to our bodies and understand the stories they hold, we begin to dismantle generations of pain, making space for futures where empathy and unity are not ideals but lived realities.

Conclusion: A Future Worth Striving For

My Grandmother's Hands reminds us that healing is both a personal and collective journey. To truly dismantle the legacies of racism, we must start with our own bodies, understanding that our liberation is tied to the liberation of others. Menakem’s work is a gift and a guide for those willing to do the work—challenging as it may be, this work is the cornerstone of a future where wellness and justice are one and the same.