Decolonizing the Body: Healing, Body-Centered Practices for Women of Color to Reclaim Confidence, Dignity, and Self-Worth

by Kelsey Blackwell, Christena Cleveland (Foreword)

Powerful, body-based practices to help you reclaim confidence, dignity, and self-worth. As a woman of color, you are more likely to experience oppression, discrimination, and physical or sexual violence in your lifetime. In addition, your family may have experienced generational trauma and systemic racism going back for centuries. This old and new trauma can manifest in both the mind and body. However, there are ways you can free yourself from this trauma, build confidence in yourself and your abilities, and restore your powerful sense of self. Written by a woman of color for women of color, Decolonizing the Body offers proven-effective somatic, body-centered practices to help you heal from systemic oppression, trust the profound wisdom of your own body, and reconnect with your true self. And by slowing down, cultivating a daily ritual, and setting strong boundaries, you can reclaim your inherent dignity and worth—as well as those aspects of yourself that you may have cast aside in an effort to survive. With this empowering guide, you’ll   To decolonize the body is to become whole again, and to come home again. Let this book be your guide on this crucial journey.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Feminism, Social Justice, Race, Mental Health, Activism

184 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2023

Reviews

[Tamia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book came across me at a time where i am learning more about the role that our bodies play in our healing and decision making processes. it touches a lot on the difference between colonized bodies and minds vs decolonized bodies and minds, and in doing so shows that the way our societies rear us actually take us further away from our true nature as human beings. and i feel like that's what i'm trying to find- my true nature. so if you want to remember who you are and who we're meant to be, read this book. i'm very glad to have read it

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decolonizing the Body by Kelsey Blackwell starts off with her honoring the legacy of her ancestors. She starts with her reflections on Harriet Tubman and wonders about how Tubman was able to deprogram herself in an evil colonial system designed to kill her spirit. Blackwell then goes on to ask readers to reflect on the harmful legacy of slavery and the ways that we have been taught to "push our anger far down, to disconnect from feeling and sensation 'to get through'".

There is wisdom in our bodies that extends way past anything verbal language can communicate. By decolonizing our bodies we are able to reconnect to them as our home base and to learn to trust the embodied knowledge that is in our bones. Using the study of somatics, Blackwell encourages readers to pay more attention to our bodies, what they are saying and what they have to reveal to us and teach us. Our mental and emotional health is improved when we are connected to our bodies because our relationship to our bodies is where we first come face to face with understanding our innate human needs.

One quote in particular sticks with me: "What is the best way to distract people from accessing their how? By keeping them so busy that they don't have time to notice or take care of what is happening in their body, by making them believe that what they produce is the only way to garner respect for and keep their body safe." In order to decolonize the body we have to reclaim it and in order to reclaim it we have to understand how these systems of oppression directly stand in opposition to our ability to slow down enough to do this work. Decolonizing the body will take work and will take intention. There are practical tools and meditations provided in the text to help us with this as well as guided audio meditation practices available for download.

I'm excited to start building in some of the rituals shared into my own daily practice especially the rituals around connecting with our ancestors and hearing their guidance. When we decolonize the body we honor what it's holding and in doing so we honor our own ancestral heritage. There are also many powerful reflections on building supportive communities and what this requires outside of a capitalistic framework. This might be the part of the book I will spend most of time unpacking. Communities of care save lives and learning to build and sustain them is something I am dedicated to doing more of for myself and for others.

[Miriam Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took a long time to read it so I could DO it and not just read it. I never wanted it to end. Thank you for adding this book to the world!

[Eiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this actually! the perfect gateway book if you're interested in the intersection of colonialism and somatic movement. the bibliography at the end is a DREAM

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. As a somatic practitioner myself, I want to learn about more ways I can help clients and students to feel safe in my presence and offer them techniques that will have a meaningful impact for them as an individual. This book is a loving, caring, and very well informed handbook to begin the process of healing BIPOC identities from the systems of oppression that have kept them in a state of self denial for far too long. The author writes from a place of deep understanding and with every word connects the reader to expressive techniques and historical context, scientific reasoning and emotional validation. I highly recommend it.

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I will highlight that I am not the intended audience for this book, (as made clear in the sub-title) which is absolutely fine and as it should be. It was worth the read in all senses. I did the thing where I read through it all without doing the journaling/exercises, but I did bookmark those to go back to, and went to the web-site indicated and downloaded the guided meditations. This is ongoing work for me.

[Danielle Duong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decolonizing the Body is absolutely, unequivocally necessary for these times. It is a brilliant book that cuts through the fog of colonization, outlining with clarity and compassion the frank realities faced by bodies of color. As an engaged reader, I can tell immediately the depth of heart and intention infused into each chapter, each word. Blackwell speaks vulnerably from her own lived experiences and skillfully and creatively interweaves relatable stories, somatic practices, and captivating analysis to compel the reader into personal exploration. She draws essential distinctions between a decolonized body and a colonized body. As a woman of color, I feel called to engage in my own process of re-membering, decolonizing. In the very first chapter, Blackwell asks the reader "how are you?" which may seem simple at first but you soon realize, it is a direct yet compassionate invitation to really ask... "well, how am I, really?" Blackwell's work invites us to see clearly and listen deeply within, throwing out the program of colonization and white supremacy and recentering our bodies as the guide to healing and inner freedom.

I have deep gratitude to the author and her ancestors for bringing this important work of love to full life. I could not highly recommend this book enough!

[Snickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the opportunity to read and review! As a brown woman I see the effects colonization had on my community and POC communities in general in our day-to-day life, and coming across this book I knew I had to read and check out what insight I could gain from this source! I really enjoyed how the major themes the book would cover were broken down from the get-go. The writing is written in an easy-to-read format without any of the filler jargon that I tend to come across in any nonfiction book that is intended to be read by anyone. This is a self-care book but guided by the thought of those from a POC background at the forefront. Understanding why some of our mannerisms, and our internalized repertoire can be dismantled. Although the practices are nothing new or unheard of, the book provides another insight into how to use them to aid in situations where you're feeling suffocated in your body due to various societal stressors stemming from ignorance and prejudice. If you are a person of color, I really think it's worth taking a look at this book to see if any aspect of it speaks to you!

[Weekend Reader_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book right on time. I really loved the layout coupled with referring to anxiety as a result of disconnecting from your body to survive. And I think any discussion related to rest without including somatic healing is a missed opportunity so bravo to the author for having the foresight to include it.

This book is actually what I was hoping to gain from Rest is Resistance. My only criticism is that I have a hard time with the argument that Black people don't know their roots. While we may have separated from a place of origin our stories are embedded in the countries our families were dispersed. Though I think the full circle of and the distinction between colonization, imperialism, and racialized oppression was spot on. This was also one of the few books I saw that acknowledges queer bodies and the specific dissociation needed to happen to survive under these conditions.

I have lots of thoughts but I'm happy I was provided an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decolonizing the Body is an invitation to recognize our right to liberation and practice it, now. Blackwell offers context on how how bodies are colonized through systems of oppression. She offers wisdom on how to listen to what your body needs, create space for ritual, and lean into remembering and embodying our interdependence in beloved community. The book is beautifully written, accessible, and engaging. And, this MUCH MORE than a book. It is an invitation, a guide, and set of practices organized to support women of color to "Re-member," "Reclaim,", "Release", and "Relate". I am so grateful for this offering to connect to the deep wisdom of my body and ancestors. I will return to these practices regularly to support myself in my commitments and I highly recommend this book to you to support in your respective journey.

[Gery Paredes Vásquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Insightful,Healing and Liberating✨This book breathes and invites loving practice and deep relationship all around. As a Latine woman of mixed race and ethinicity due to colonization, it truly is my wildest dream for a wise guide on becoming whole and free. The kind of book that you don’t just read but honor with your practice. Kelsey’s practices to remember, reclaim, release and relate to ourselves as sacred and in ongoing transformation, are easy to follow, clear and powerful. This is a book that once you read it, becomes a companion of a lifetime. Kelsey’s writing is poetic, disarmingly honest, and beautifully grounded in years of ongoing practice. A true gift that you don’t want to miss experiencing and that you want to share with loved ones in your life. Don’t wait more, get yours and let’s get free together. It is all worth it! 🌎🌍🌏

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal! Kelsey Blackwell masterfully breaks down complex concepts with simple and profound language and metaphors. Her choice of words and images brought clarity and freshness to the decolonization discourse. As I engaged with the book I often found myself nodding emphatically and releasing deep exhales. Kelsey's ability to articulate the nuance and complexity of my decolonizing journey as a black woman evoked a sense of trust in me as a reader. The trust translated into a willingness to wholeheartedly engage in the book's practices. The practices are thoughtful and allowed me to root into my body. Grateful for this book and the practices I've been (re)introduced to. I highly, highly recommend it.

[Leah Hortin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this so that I, a white, straight, cisgender woman could better understand and serve BIPOC women in my coaching practice. And while this book wasn't written for me per say, I resonated deeply with it. I am also a product of colonization, capitalism, and the patriarchy, though not as deeply felt as others. I think this is an excellent read for all women - the chapters on imposter syndrome and boundaries stood out to me in particular. There are guided practices and journal prompts to help you embody the work. She made a great analogy - she is giving you the recipe, but you still have to cook.

[Hulean Lani · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Foreward re: Harriet Tubman and the strength she had and where I my lack, I was hooked. The book was insightful yet complex because one must do the work to embrace freedom.
I advise my church to order a few copies for a women's group. I would advise everyone to slowly read the boom and really digest what work ones need to do. But because I had promised it to someone to read, i had to complete it within a week. I do plan to reread the book and complete some worksheets for myself to indulge in while growing into a freedom warrior!

[daniella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy. Excellent read. Offers an approach that is as informative as it is approachable. Focusing on those belonging to the global majority I enjoyed the mix of explaining where individual challenges can arise from systemic/historical oppression. The author creates a safe space for understanding where struggles can originate and continue to come in the present. There are also multiple journal prompts and exercises that can offer space for reflection.

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must for anyone but especially women of color. It's a gift that keeps on giving.
It's a source of water amid the desert. It's a seminal piece that will change the course of history. I wish I had this book when I started my career in tech. Learning and committing to exercises that foster my dignity and worth is paramount in this world and I'm so grateful to have Kelsey's work as a tool to turn to over and over again. A must-read!

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of useful nuggets in this book that helped me center and rethink daily life. There were a few parts I did not connect with and I will admit I did not complete all the journal prompts... but that's okay I still found this book very useful and it was a quick read.

[birdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst I am not the intended audience for this text, I feel grateful to have learnt from Kelsey Blackwell. This is an incredible resource to help build knowledge on the histories and impacts of the colonial project and how healing can look inside the body and inside community.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black women's bodies have been policed since the beginning and I have a fear that it will never stop. This is such a great and powerful resource for black women and other women of color. I will have to refer to this book in the future so I can implement some of these tips.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and all of the practices/meditations/journal topics. I would love to reread it in a group and share what was coming up for us. Highly recommend!!!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not written for me, but I still found it to be a very powerful book. I would have liked a little more depth to some of the specific topics, so I will hope for a follow up!

[Amaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good! As a therapist in training, woman, and POC - the examples, exercises, and practices were very helpful and instructive.

[Chelsea Gardner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure I’m the right target audience for this book in its entirety — some parts resonated with me, especially as a yogi, but others just didn’t quite feel right for me. Nevertheless, I have a strong inclination to gift it to others who I think may read it and feel seen. Maybe it’ll speak to them…