Celebrating Black Humanity & Joy as Healing: Body, Mind, Soul, Society & Nature

Academic mentors: Ruby Mendenhall

Community partner: StreamBridge

Project description: 
Before the modern era, medicine was thought of not so much as a scientific practice but as an art dedicated to health and healing. Treating the whole person involves hearing the stories patients tell about their illness and recovery or lack of recovery. High-Tech and High-Touch involves understanding that patients can be low-income and sick but still possess a wealth of cultural resources to get well (e.g., traditions, spirituality, photos, music, etc.). Other examples of treating the whole person include knowing the role of history and oppression in creating the health disparities doctors see in their patients.

Our research question is what healing practices do Black mothers, other mothers, and daughters engage in to foster their health and wellness? The project objectives are to show the daily life of Black women and girls. In the spirit of W.E.B. Du Bois, we want to focus on Black women and girls' mental health (e.g., coping mechanisms - racism). We also seek to celebrate the beauty of Black women of girls and learn about the people, places and things that are healing (e.g. sacred spaces, relationships, etc.).

We seek to produce new knowledge at the intersection of medicine, art and humanities using the model of a Communiversity. We seek to publish a picture book with new scientific knowledge at this intersection.  The name of the project is "Celebrating Black Humanity and Joy as Healing: Body, Mind, Soul, Society and Nature." 

Role of the Community-Academic Scholar:
Community Problem. When Mendenhall (2016) conducted research with Black women in Chicago, they described the challenges of living in neighborhoods with high levels of violence as having depressive symptoms, post-traumatic (or chronic) stress disorder, chronic headaches, digestive problems, hair falling out, and even death followed by debilitating grief for those left behind. Scholars are also seeing an increase in diseases of despair such as drug use, alcoholism and suicide ideation. There is a significant need for healing modalities that foster joy, happiness and hope. Therefore, our summer project is part of a larger #JoyHappyHope campaign conceptualized for a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Organization by Ruby Mendenhall (faculty U of I), Bridgett White (StreamBridge community organization) and Joe Bradley (faculty at U of I). Unfortunately, the grant was not funded.

The project for this summer will be an aspect of the campaign and will celebrate the joy and humanity of Black women and girls. The Community-Academic Scholar and Bridgett's high school daughter (Briana, who is a Community Health Worker and has pictures of her in the photo exhibit) will take the lead in transcribing the mother and daughter interviews. The scholar, Bridgett, and Bridgett's daughters will participate in group analysis (with the research team) of the stories and writing up the findings.