Black Lives Are Beautiful 50 Tools to Heal from Trauma and Promote Positive Racial Identity

Black Lives Are Beautiful is a workbook explicitly designed to help members of the Black community counter the impacts of racialized trauma while also cultivating self-esteem, building resilience, fostering community, and promoting Black empowerment. As readers explore each part of this workbook, they will develop tools to overcome the mental injuries that occur from living in a racialized society. Clinicians who use this workbook with clients will find a practical toolbox of racially informed interventions to aid clinicians, particularly White clinicians, in culturally sensitive clinical practice.

Introduction. Section 1: Healing from Racial Trauma Activity 1. Racialized Trauma Self-Assessment Checklist Activity 2. Uncovering Your Racialized Trauma Activity 3. Identifying Internalized Racism Activity 4. Interrupting the Cycle of Internalized Racism Activity 5. Your Body Can Help Activity 6. A Healing Self-Compassion Meditation Activity 7. My Racial Healing Toolbox Section 2: Tools to Promote Self-Esteem Activity 8. Self-Esteem Questionnaire Activity 9. Black Racial Identity Quiz Activity 10. Your Melanin is Poppin’ Activity 11. Let Your Social Media Reflect Your Confidence Activity 12. Take a Selfie Activity 13. Family Ties Activity 14. Proud Moments Activity 15. Goals Toward Greatness Activity 16. Visualize Your Greatness Activity 17. Create Your Catchphrase Section 3: Tools to Promote Resilience Activity 18. Metaphor of Life Activity 19. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Activity 20. Your Family Story Activity 21. You’re a Survivor Activity 22. Rewrite the Narrative Activity 23. Self-Compassion Activity 24. Purpose and Resilience Activity 25. Manifesting Your Purpose Activity 26. Using Fun to Enhance Resilience Section 4: Tools to Promote Empowerment Activity 27. Music For Your Soul Activity 28. Stories That Inspire Activity 29. Heritage Wall Activity 30. Pearls of Wisdom Activity 31. Release and Let Go Activity 32. Safe Spaces Activity 33. Black Minds Matter Activity 34. Sociopolitical Empowerment Activity 35. Your Role as a Change Agent Activity 36. Black Economic Empowerment Activity 37. Messages About Money Activity 38. Anti-Racism Empowerment Strategies Section 5: Tools to Promote Community Activity 39. Finding Your Tribe Activity 40. Cultural Institutions Activity 41. The Hate They Give Activity 42. Contribute Your Gift Activity 43. Juneteenth Activity 44. Seven Principles Activity 45. Black Greek Life Activity 46. Community Engagement Activity 47. Community Sense Activity 48. Mind, Body, and Soul Activity 49. Better Together Activity 50. Thank You Letter

Janeé M. Steele, PhD, is a licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, and diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. Dr. Steele is also the owner of Kalamazoo Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, PLLC, where she provides therapy, supervision, and training in CBT. Her scholarly activity includes service as an associate editor of the Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development and authorship of works focused on the areas of CBT, cultural diversity, social justice advocacy, and counselor training. Charmeka S. Newton, PhD, is a professor at the University of North Dakota. She is also a fully licensed psychologist and owner of Legacy Mental Health Services, PLLC. Dr. Newton is passionate about mitigating racial disparities in mental health treatment. In 2022, she was honored with the Distinguished Psychologist Award by the Michigan Psychological Association for this work. She is also a peer-reviewed journal author and sought-after speaker.