Relationships should be a place of safety—but what if they often feel like the opposite? In this episode of Black Girl Burnout, we explore what Resmaa Menakem calls annihilation energy—the deep, destructive force that lives in our bodies and relationships due to inherited trauma. We unpack how Black Men and Women engage with each other, the unspoken tensions that shape our connections, and why healing is more than just self-care—it’s an act of resistance.

But here’s the truth: Healing doesn’t come from tips and quick fixes. It comes from deep inquiry, from tending to the wounds we’ve inherited and the ones we’ve created. It requires learning new ways to be with ourselves and each other.

Kelley & Resmaa Highlight

✨ The difference between anger and annihilation energy—and why it matters

✨ How historical trauma shapes our relationships today

✨ Why safety and tenderness must be cultivated, not assumed

✨ A new way to approach healing—without urgency or shame

If love has ever felt like a battleground, if connection sometimes feels impossible—this episode is for you. Because healing begins when we stop fighting and start tending.

Ways To Support The Podcast:

• ⭐ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify (goal: 1,000 reviews!)
• 📲 Follow on TikTok & Instagram (@blackgirlburnout)
• 💬 Tag a Black creator, artist, or entrepreneur you’ve supported recently.
• 🎧 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!
• 👉 Let’s continue this conversation: What’s one act of reciprocity you’ve done this week? DM us or comment on our latest IG post!

Remember, support isn’t just about money. Visibility, engagement, and amplification matter, too.

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Connect With Resmaa Menakem

Web: 

• www.resmaa.com 
• www.culturalsomaticsuniversity.thinkrific.com
• https://blackoctopussociety.com
• https://blackoctopussociety.com/subscriptions/

Instagram:

• @resmaamenakem

BGB Community Minute l Aline Lopes

ATTN: BGB Community In Dorchester (Boston Area) Massachusetts, we are happy to highlight an amazing upcoming play in your area. We need your help to support this event.

Note From Aline Lopes:

My name is Aline and I am a theatre company owner from Boston. Our productions are focused on stereotypes and taboos surrounding mental health that exist in black and brown communities.

About The Play:

The play's name is "The Many Faces Of The Strong Black Woman: The Dark Days", and we will be performing at the Strand Theater in Dorchester, MA April 4th and 5th, 2025. 

The play is a part of a series of plays that displays different stories of black women maneuvering through the stressors of life all while trying to live up to the ideals held by the idea of "the strong black woman". The plays are meant to highlight the interconnectivity that exists between our biology and our race. The play displays some of the ways these factors impact us as black women living in the US. This particular play showcases what happens when all the members of a sisterhood are simultaneously struggling to manage their individual mental health status. The play focuses on the ways we interact with our inner circle and the world beyond when our mental health is suffering. 

This production displays some of the dark ways we impact ourselves and those close to us when our mental health is deteriorating. The story is told through dialogue, dancing, singing and rapping. The production collaborates with local artists and works hard to use as much original local music as possible. 

Where:

Strand Theater

543 Columbia Rd

Dorchester,, MA 02125

When:

Friday April 4, 2025

Saturday April 5, 2025

Attire:

Evening / Cocktail Attire

Time:

The play begins at 7pm - 8:30  (20 minute intermission). Afterwards there is a meet and greet with the cast. Coffee and desserts are served during this time. 

Art:

We will also be displaying paintings and other visual arts pieces, from college and high school students in the gallery. 

Purchase Your Ticket:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-many-faces-of-the-strong-black-woman-the-dark-day-tickets-1242367557809?aff=oddtdtcreator

Learn More About This Organization

https://www.thecrewproductions.com/

#BlackGirlBurnout #OptOutOfStruggle #ReciprocityMatters #SupportBlackWomen

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