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Under Trump’s Authoritarian Rule, Sleep Becomes a Matter of Survival for Black Americans

August 26, 2025

President Trump's policies targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are being met with a counterstrategy emphasizing rest as a form of resistance for Black Americans and other marginalized groups. Activists like Tricia Hersey, founder of the Nap Ministry and author of "Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto," frame adequate rest as essential for liberation from systems that exploit marginalized communities. Representative Bennie Thompson has criticized Trump's actions as an assault on Black voices and history, while economic policies described as a "triple threat" by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities are creating stress that directly impacts sleep quality.

Who is affected

  • Black Americans and other marginalized communities
  • 11 million Black people who received food assistance in 2023
  • 13 million people who relied on Medicaid or CHIP for health coverage
  • Black-owned businesses impacted by tariffs
  • Families experiencing stress from economic policies
  • Individuals experiencing sleep deprivation and resulting health consequences

What action is being taken

  • The Nap Ministry is promoting rest as resistance against exploitative systems
  • Rep. Bennie Thompson is speaking out against Trump's actions that target Black communities
  • Activists, politicians, and health experts are emphasizing the importance of sleep as federal protections are removed
  • Research is being conducted showing the connections between sleep deprivation and health problems

Why it matters

  • Insufficient rest threatens both health and survival for marginalized communities
  • Sleep deprivation is linked to serious health conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer
  • Sleep quality directly affects self-control and decision-making abilities
  • Economic instability from policy changes fuels stress and insomnia, creating a cycle that worsens chronic health outcomes
  • The combination of political oppression and health vulnerability creates a particularly difficult situation for Black Americans

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer