How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Black Fatigue

Black Fatigue is the first book to name and describe a phenomena Black people know well: the multifaceted physical and psychological damage wrought by simply living, day by day, in a racist society.

WHAT IS

Black Fatigue is a vital resource for Black and non-Black people who are looking for ways to heal, learn, and have productive and supportive conversations about racial injustice and trauma. To move forward, we need to know where we came from and where we are — Black Fatigue is the foundation from which we can begin to imagine a better world, together.

This book highlights the history of white supremacist, racist systems that led to Black intergenerational fatigue. It focuses on the impact of Black fatigue on Blacks and on society. The racist system is not just literally killing Black people; it is tearing the nation apart. In every aspect of life, from socioeconomics to education, the workforce, criminal justice and, very importantly, health outcomes. It is paradoxical that with all the attention over the last 50 years on social justice and diversity and inclusion, we have made little progress in actualizing the vision of an equitable society.

Black Fatigue provides an in-depth account of why Black people are fatigued and what we can do about it. White people who read Black Fatigue will not only be educated on the history of racism but may also be motivated to become an anti-racist, an ally, and a power broker for systemic change. It will provide a necessary context to engage in inclusive conversations. For Black people, it will also be educational and affirming, and when one of your white colleagues asks you to educate them, you can refer them to this resource so as not to exacerbate your fatigue.

Meet the Author

Mary-Frances Winters

Dubbed a thought leader in the field, for the past three decades Mary-Frances Winters has inspired hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals with her approach to diversity and inclusion. She is known to be a provocateur and not afraid to have the difficult conver-sations. Among her many awards and distinctions, she was featured twice in Forbes as one of the DC Metro area’s most powerful women and one of 10 trailblazers to watch in diversity and inclusion. She has served as a torch bearer for the Olympics and has previously been recognized as an Athena Award winner from the Chamber of Commerce for her contributions to women and the community.

Ms. Winters is President and CEO of The Winters Group, Inc., a 36-year-old diversity and inclusion consulting firm, and the author of six books, including her best seller, We Can’t Talk about That at Work!: How to Talk about Race, Religion, Politics, and Other Polarizing Topics; and her two latest books, Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy and Belonging across Differences and Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit.

Learn More

Black fatigue in the media

Click each image to read, watch or listen to the interview.

Testimonials

By far the most important read in America right now, and especially so for Black America considering the triple pandemic we’re currently experiencing. This book will go down as one of the most important books on Black mental health in America.

Buy this book, you’ll thank yourself later.
– Behavior Coach –

Testimonials

Part educational tool, part self-help guide, Black Fatigue is one of the most topical antiracist reads for this moment

 
Mary-Frances Winters’ Black Fatigue is a life-altering work. It belongs on every reading list, and I feel lucky to be among its first readers. Buy it, read it, share it.
– Marshall Scholar –

Testimonials

Thank God on high for this release—Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes Mind, Body, and Spirit by Mary-Frances Winters. Now just as ever, Black Americans need healing books that validate our experiences. At least, I know I do.

– Blogger –

Testimonials

Sometimes a book meets you exactly when you need it.

Black Fatigue is required reading. I REALLY would love for Black and nonBlack folks alike to join me in experiencing this smoothly-written treatise exploring the psychological and physical effects of racism on the Black psyche and the Black body.

– Influencer –

Testimonials

Black Fatigue is a beautifully written treatise on the effects of racism on the Black psyche. Winters draws from her own experiences as a first generation American, encountering racism in education and in corporate America, and presents deeply researched facts and statistics that quantify Black Fatigue.


I cannot emphasize it enough how important this body of work is. Every reader can learn from Black Fatigue.

– Influencer –

Testimonials

This is a great resource for beginning or continuing anti-racism work, and it really gives you information on how racism affects BIPOC, but especially Black people.

– Blogger –

Resources for Black Fatigue

Where to Purchase Black Fatigue

Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit is available now anywhere books are sold! Find some common links here, or find a Black-owned bookstore here.

The Inclusion Solution

Read about Black Fatigue and what we’re learning from it on The Inclusion Solution publication.

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Book Reviews

Check out these book reviews from various bloggers, influencers, and thought-leaders
in the field.

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Best-selling author and CEO of The Winters Group Inc., Mary-Frances Winters is the founder and CEO of The Winters Group, as well as a best-selling author of five books, including Black Fatigue. She will be your host in this third season of The Inclusion Solution LIVE to discuss the many layers of Black fatigue with her special guests.

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Dr. Tara Doaty is the CEO of Sage Wellness Group and a Howard University trained clinical psychologist who works with survivors of trauma, especially parents, children, and families. Dr. Tara shares her expertise with Mary-Frances Winters, providing actionable solutions to turn Black fatigue into Black Joy.

Podcast

My Black fatigue

The Inclusion Solution LIVE is The Winters Group’s podcast discussing trends and ideas in DEI with thought leaders, creatives, advocates, and everyday people. These conversations are meant to shift perspectives and empower action, all in service of equity, justice, and inclusion.

In this season, titled My Black Fatigue, you will hear personal and vulnerable accounts of Black fatigue from guests of a variety of identities, age groups, and professional industries. Available here, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

                                 Hover over each guest to learn more about them and their episode. Click to listen.

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Dr. Shannon Sullivan is the Chair of the Philosophy Department at UNC Charlotte and author of Good White People: The Problem with Middle-Class White Anti-Racism. She discusses epigenetics and how patterns of systemic stress directed at a race of people are creating real, physiological effects for generations.

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Tami Jackson, known as the purple tressed, J.E.D.I. Knight, has 15 years of professional experience in a variety of industries including sports, entertainment, advertising, higher education, tech and learning and development. Her personal account of Black fatigue in a corporate setting is one that is all too familiar in the Black community, and Mary-Frances Winters herself shares a moment of vulnerability based on her experiences.
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Tremayne Bess joins Mary-Frances this week to talk about the intersectional fatigue that comes with being Black, Gay, and often older in the HR spaces where he works. Tremayne is now the Director of HR at Splunk, but has previously had to remove himself from many workplace environments that did not foster a sense of safety. Setting boundaries is only one of the ways that he manages fatigue, and this applies with family, friends, and co-workers. This conversation helps us understand the compounding effects of Black fatigue.
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Djuana Beamon is a thought leader and diversity practitioner who has worked at a number of different organizations. She shares her Black fatigue story with a mission to wake people up and presents a challenge to both black and non-Black folks to reimagine how to mitigate Black fatigue in the context of being a friend, colleague, leader, community member and more. Djuana and Mary-Frances both call out the insufficient attention to sustainable strategies for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice as a key contributor to Black fatigue. The work starts with education but goes far beyond that according to the solutions presented by Djuana and Mary-Frances.
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Chevara Orrin is an award-winning diversity and inclusion practitioner, social entrepreneur, published author, social justice activist and Principle Strategist with The Winters Group, Inc. Chevara shares how her intersectional identities influence the way she shows up as a bi-racial woman in her family, relationships and career. Her emphasis on self-healing helps her to address historical trauma and mitigate Black fatigue. She asks others to prioritize their own well-being first to enable them to care for others. Chevara also asks that we are mindful of both the risks and rewards that come with diversity, equity, inclusion and justice work. She leaves us with a hopeful message that there is always common ground to be found.

The Winters Group

The Inclusion Solution

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