A Balancing Act: Why Advocates Must Prioritize Mental Health

By Emily Wilson

As a NAACP Democracy Fellow, my cohorts and I put in weeks of hard work to help preserve democracy. I worked with the NAACP to canvass neighborhoods and call community members. Every program was executed with love and care. But in one night, it felt like years of progress — our hard work — was erased. I was crushed.

Now, over a month after the election, we're past the time for sorrow and sadness. It's time to act and advocate.

Now is the time to hit the ground running to make sure inhumane policies won't affect our people. Now is the time to protect our women and children. Now is the time to educate the youth on the authentic history of our people. If anyone thought the civic work was extensive before November, there is going to be so much more work that needs to be done following the outcome of the 2024 election. As a Democracy Fellow for the oldest civil rights organization in the nation, there are many things I learned on this journey. The main lesson I took away was to not let the work consume me. 

As a Black woman, there's a misconception that we're the superheroes of our communities. 

While that can be true at times, there needs to be a point where we save ourselves for once. There needs to be a point when we put our mental health first for once. There needs to be a time when we just sit back and take a break without feeling guilty for once. 

Advocacy work is my passion. It ignites me. It drives me. But it also drains me. This work is hard and I give it my all. To my fellow brothers and sisters in this fight, remember to take care of yourselves. 

After all: what good is the movement if the superheroes of our community are burned out? 

Emily Wilson is a Democracy Fellow in North Carolina, who worked with the NAACP to mobilize Black voters.