Workshop Description:

Traditional understanding of masculinity often uses productivity as a marker of a man’s authenticity. For black men, it is tied to their very humanity. To contend with the challenges created by racism, personal struggles and intergenerational trauma, many black men have developed a coping response called “John Henry-ism" (aka having to be twice as good to go just as far).  Tragically, this idea often leads to a life reduced to merely surviving instead of one that is thriving; bound to the idea of perpetually proving your worth instead of reaching your potential.

The purpose of the seminar will be to explore how to help black men regain a sense of purpose and person that goes beyond mere productivity or responding to bigotry. It will also seek to identify and implement more adaptive and sustainable sources of strength, support, wisdom, and identity.

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Learning Objectives:

1. Discussing the origins of John Henry-ism and its impact on psychological, emotional and physical health.

2. Exploring the meaning of the word, “grind” and what purposes grind culture may be serving.

3. Examining the “Weathering Hypothesis” and its impact on longevity in black men.

4. Helping clients move from assigned roles into a chosen identity via ancestral archetypes.

5. The use of “flow” as a way of neutralizing toxic narratives and crafting stories that emancipate and empower.

6. Identifying elements Posttraumatic Growth to reframe inherited paradigms and limiting beliefs.

7. Shaping a therapeutic trajectory that travels through three types of stories: grievance, gratitude and great gain.

8. A discussion of Tariq Trotter’s (aka Black Thought of The Roots) ideas about the seven-year sabbath and identity formation.

9. Creating a revitalization cycle to offset the cumulative effects of stress.