Rest Is Resistance: Group Discussion

The work we do doesn’t define our worth. Imagine a world where justice includes space for rest and leisure, away from the relentless grind created by capitalism, white supremacy, and other oppressive forces. For centuries, these systems have exploited bodies for production, leading to destruction and harm by denying the inherent divinity in every human being. But now, people are waking up to this manipulation, and they’re starting to prioritize rest and healing.

America was built on the labor of Black and Indigenous people, whose right to rest was denied. The capitalist system grew out of violence and the theft of labor on plantations. These oppressive systems view human bodies as property, not as divine beings. We've been conditioned to believe we must work endlessly or risk falling into poverty. But there’s more beyond this narrow view.