Nicole Cardoza Nicole Cardoza Nicole Cardoza Nicole Cardoza

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Happy Monday,

It feels a bit silly to write today’s newsletter for you – yes, you. Because if you’re reading this, you’re still here. Maybe it’s not by choice. Maybe, like me, you’ve been marginalized by white supremacy your whole life without a say. But perhaps you’re reading this, and you have the privilege to walk away from this work. Yet you’re still here. And for that I'm grateful.

Today’s newsletter looks at white fatigue against sleep deprivation and exhaustion in the U.S. I hope it helps put fatigue into perspective and encourages all of us to fortify ourselves for the necessary work ahead.

Thank you to all that give to support this newsletter. Please consider giving one-time on our website, PayPal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). Or, pledge $5/month on Patreon to help us stay sustainable for the months ahead.

Nicole

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TAKE ACTION

Plan to have a tough conversation about race with your family member, friend or co-worker this week. Choose a topic from the Anti-Racism Daily archives to kick it off.

Research the sleep disparities in your state using this interactive map.

If you identify as non-white, take time to rest today if you can.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza

It’s been just over two months sincere the protests started – 2 months since the Anti-Racism Daily launched – and you may have noticed that your social media feeds, Slack channels, and conversations in the office have gone “back to normal”. Some people feel “feed fatigue,” the concept of feeling overwhelmed by the pace and quantity of content on our newsfeeds. In this context, we’re talking about the fatigue that some people experience after reading and watching videos on racism, protests, and the global pandemic months on end.

 

But there’s a more insidious form of fatigue that might be prompting people to leave this movement. And that’s “white fatigue,” a term that, according to Joseph E. Flynn, author of White Fatigue: Rethinking Resistance for Social Justice and professor at Northern Illinois University, is defined as the following:

 

"A quasi-form of white resistance in which white folks are understanding that racism is wrong, but get tired and frustrated with conversation about race because of its complexity" (Refinery 29).

 

We’re all going through a lot right now, and being tired of it all isn’t a crime. But white fatigue in particular usually draws people out of the necessary work, causing attention to fade, movements to dwindle, and critical conversations on racism and discrimination to fall from the public eye. As we referenced in our email last week about Breonna Taylor, what we choose to rally behind in-person and online drives organic interest, which can often encourage media to pick up stories in the news and brands to pay attention (Anti-Racism Daily). It keeps pertinent conversations present in relationships and at the workplace. And it fosters the self-inquiry and reflection that we each need individually to drive collective impact. So even if white fatigue is valid, we can’t use it as validation to leave the fight.

 

Especially because right now America is in a deep state of fatigue. And some people are impacted more by fatigue than others. Generally, Americans have been losing sleep. Since 2013, data has indicated that we’re getting less sleep than the year before. As of 2018, one-third of U.S. adults said they sleep less than six hours a night, which is 15% more people getting less sleep than the year before (Reuters). Another study indicates that 30% of adults have insomnia (Sleep Foundation). But this spiral isn’t proportional across race and ethnic backgrounds. The Hispanic and Black communities were most likely to indicate a shift in sleep hours. In the survey, 31% of white survey participants, 42% of Black participants, and 33% of Hispanic participants were sleeping six or fewer hours (Reuters). Asian American teens are disproportionately less likely to get sleep than their non-Asian counterparts (CDC).

 

These disparities in sleep show up differently in cities and counties across America. Noise pollution in lower-income urban communities is prevalent. With fewer trees and more manufacturing or major transportation nearby, these areas (referred to in yesterday’s email as heat islands) tend to carry sound – especially when paired with many people living nearby (The Conversation). Urban areas tend to have higher homelessness levels, too, which makes sleep scarce for millions of people (Bloomberg). The CDC study also shows that regions in predominantly non-white communities are more likely to experience short sleep (CDC).

 

Sleep deprivation is a form of systemic oppression. Exhaustion is a form of oppression forced upon African Americans since the time of slavery to dehumanize and control a group of people and maximize their productivity output (LA Times). It’s also a misconception about Black people; Thomas Jefferson, for instance, thought that “Black people simply ‘require less sleep’ than whites” (LA Times). It’s why niv Acosta and Fannie Sosa, founders of Black Power Naps, believe that rest should be a part of reparations (Vice). Sleep deprivation has been used as a control tactic in immigration detention centers (PS Mag) and prisons (Washington Post). It’s also been wielded against people of color, mainly Asian communities, through the “model minority myth.” This outdated notion dictates that one must work hard and outpace others to overcome racial barriers and be seen as “equal” by dominant culture. This pinnacle of success is the level all non-white people should aspire to reach (Time). This stereotype can encourage people of color to overwork and outperform others, which places the burden of white supremacy on the individual’s breath and body instead of the system that created it.

 

These historical patterns of sleep deprivation create and perpetuate harmful health conditions for communities of color. Lack of sleep can create chronic health issues that can persist for a lifetime, including (and not limited to) Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression (CDC). Lack of sleep during pregnancy can cause preeclampsia and increase the risk of complications at birth (American Academy of Family Physicians). These conditions – which can even persist generationally – are partially why the CDC named sleep issues as a public health epidemic back in 2014 (Sleep Dr).

 

And right now, sleep issues are amplified because of COVID-19. Although some studies indicate that a decreased morning commute has helped some people get more hours of sleep (Polar), others suggest that there’s been a 20% increase in insomnia since COVID-19 began (NCBI). There might be more time to sleep, but the stress, anxiety, and worry about current events decrease the likelihood of getting a good night’s rest (Current Biology). Not only that, COVID-19 symptoms, along with its lingering effects, both often include insomnia and fatigue (Science Mag). Notice the vicious cycle. The sleep disparities people of color experience can create pre-existing conditions that exacerbate contracting and dying from COVID-19, which can cause less sleep, which in turn, can worsen pre-existing conditions – all in a stressful and challenging time.

 

And consider how essential workers suffer even further. Many have to work longer hours, stay away from their families to reduce the risk of infecting others, and maintain erratic schedules as the virus persists. For example, a study in California notes that Latinx workers on farms and meat processing facilities often have to sleep in barracks on-location (Democracy Now). Many of the occupations considered essential right now are already on the list for the most sleep-deprived professions (Newsweek). 

 

So when we feel quick to reference white fatigue, let’s be sure to acknowledge who in the U.S. has the right to rest. Some people in society have more privilege to choose to feel and respond to fatigue. And some choose to bow out of work to stay comfortable with their privilege. Because it can be challenging to continually dismantle ideas and practices that once felt safe and comfortable, actively choosing discomfort and growth in its place, but it’s necessary. Communities of color don’t have the luxury to decide how to engage in white supremacy. This work is a marathon and not a sprint. This is a call to fortify yourself for the long road ahead, especially for all those that have been exhausted for generations.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • White fatigue is when white people get tired and weary from understanding racism in America

  • America is facing a public health epidemic due to lack of sleep

  • Lack of sleep disproportionately impacts communities of color, and rest has been intentionally taken away from them throughout history

  • Active participation means choosing discomfort over privilege and showing up for all those that don't have a choice

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