On June 7, 2020, hundreds of thousands of people across the country took to the streets to loudly declare that Black lives matter. That same day, a group of 2,000 equally passionate people sat cross-legged in a park in the heart of Brooklyn to do the same—silently.
They were there for the inaugural Meditating for Black Lives event, put together by Brittany Micek (who at the time had been writing copy for emerging technology companies). For the San Diego-born, Bed-Stuy-based organizer, meditation had been a vital part of her life for years; bringing that practice into her activism—and uniting her community around it—seemed necessary in the wake of the George Floyd killing.
Since that first 30-minute guided group meditation in Bed-Stuy’s Herbert Von King Park, Meditating for Black Lives has evolved and grown, bringing in different meditation leaders, musicians, and even mutual aid components to each event. While the location has changed (you may have seen photos of the group setting up in front of the Brooklyn Museum, along the Black Lives Matter mural on Fulton Street, or in Brownsville’s Lincoln Terrace Park popping up on your Instagram feed), the ethos has remained the same: creating space for healing.
For the San Diego-born, Bed-Stuy-based organizer, meditation had been a vital part of her life for years; bringing that practice into her activism—and uniting her community around it—seemed necessary in the wake of the George Flloyd killing.
And in a year that brought new activists to the fight for racial justice, Brittany’s work has helped remind us that not all activism is rooted in action you can see—and that, as she puts it, “there’s no one way to show up.”
In between organizing a Valentine’s Day donation drive (yes, there’s still time to donate!) and gearing up for the second season of Meditating for Black Lives (yes, it will be back this spring!), Brittany spoke to Rally+Rise about the importance of stillness within activism, getting smarter with how you take action, and why balance is hard even for a meditation regular.
“Activist” means so many different things to so many different people. Do you consider yourself an activist?
Yes, I’ve always considered myself an activist. Very early on, it was ingrained in me to be an advocate and align myself with equality and justice for BIPOCs. I grew up in San Diego, California. The Chicano/La Raza movement and activism were very much a part of my life, culture, and community. There’s also a very small population of Black-identifying people in San Diego—especially in Chula Vista, the small community that I’m from.
What inspired you to start Meditating for Black Lives in 2020?
Meditation! Meditation was the catalyst for organizing my community to participate in collective healing and action. I was in the midst of a walking meditation when the idea struck me. So often we see the denigration of black bodies; what if we saw us healing instead?
“I’d like to believe that the work that’s taking place through Meditating for Black Lives is empowering, healing, and transformative.”
How would you describe the work you do through Meditating for Black Lives?
The work has been labeled all kinds of things, but a label that seems to resonate with folx from all walks of life is “healing.” I’d like to believe that the work that’s taking place through Meditating for Black Lives is empowering, healing, and transformative. Specifically, a type of transformative justice that is being tapped into through radical imagination and a shifting of the collective, community conscience.
It sounds like meditation has played an important role in your life; what role do you think it can play in movements?
A huge role that is often overlooked for more action! In movements, I find that the collective consciousness, society, etc. seeks grand and enthralling action. It makes sense for the type of culture that we live in. However, there is a lot of thought that takes place to get these ideas formed into movements and into direct actions. We need more opportunities to be still, reflect, and meditate so we can grow and develop our movements sustainably. Meditation and reflection is necessary for sustainability.
So many inspiring activists don’t have a “traditional” background in politics, but instead are able to tap into their non-political backgrounds to approach things a bit differently. Has this been the case for you?
Prior to founding Meditating for Black Lives, I worked as a creative for emerging technology companies. I wrote a lot of copy for products and websites. Prior to that I was a graduate student. I’m not sure if my skills are transferable—I’m sure they are, but which I’m still figuring out.
As Meditating for Black Lives has grown, has your approach to it—and activism in general—changed?
Yes, I was full steam ahead at the very beginning without spending enough time reflecting on where I’d be better suited and used in the movement. As we continue to mature, I try to take more and more time to work smarter for the community and harder; before it felt like I/we was/were just working really hard.
“We need more opportunities to be still, reflect, and meditate so we can grow and develop our movements sustainably.”
Speaking of working really hard, that’s something I hear a lot from people: It’s really difficult to not push yourself to the extreme when you’re so passionate about a cause. How do you protect yourself from activist burnout?
LAUGH OUT LOUD. Ha. This is such a good question. I am in therapy. I have been for about nine years. I also meditate daily. Consistency is key. I try as much as I can to stick to a sleep and eating schedule. I also am committed to alone time, me-time. Me-time can look like a bunch of things: reading, taking urban hikes, putting together a puzzle, or listening to music.
What about balancing Meditating for Black Lives with your other projects—how do you navigate that?
My other projects are community-focused, so I never feel like I’m stepping away from Meditating for Black Lives for too long as much as pouring into the organization from a different spout/perspective. This allows me to stay close but step away and gather new information and experiences to bring back to the organization and community.
Who are the activists inspiring you right now?
Tiffany Baker, Najee Wilson, Linda Lopes, Graham Wilson, Analisa Adoricion, Malcolm X, Prince, Ethel Waters, the folx at CHFGaid, Bed-Stuy Strong, Black Chef Movement.
What's your advice for someone who wants to get more involved in the movement for racial justice?
Find a deep sense of acceptance and understanding that there is no one way to do it. There is no one way to show up. Sit with yourself first, look at your shortcomings and your unique grand offerings, and then choose your shortcomings and work on them. Work on transforming your shortcomings into grand offerings. While doing that work you’ll be helping your community—white, black, whatever. You have to work on yourself before you can help someone else.
What' s been your proudest moment with Meditating for Black Lives?
Watching 2,000 people meditate in Herbert Von King Park. Absolutely incredible!
What's next for Meditating for Black Lives in 2021?
We’ll be back at it in our home park this coming spring, summer, and fall. We’ll also be working on making some of our mindful initiatives (like neighborhood cleanups and mutual aid drives) more robust and sustainable. Please, stay tuned!
Visit meditatingforblacklives.org to learn more. To support Meditating for Black Lives, consider making a donation through the website, on Venmo (@meditating-for-black-lives) or CashApp ($meditating4blklives).