Editorial Correction: In our original article, we presented some information in a way that lacked proper context and attribution. We acknowledge these oversights and apologize for any confusion or misrepresentation caused. Rwebel is committed to accurately representing the scholars and voices that shape critical discourse, and we will continue to uphold transparency and accountability in our reporting.

Doctor-prescribed “fun” was not on Janet Stickmon’s bingo card. Yet, after an ER visit in 2016, she realized that joy is not a luxury but a necessity. 

Stickmon is a professor of ethnic studies at Napa Valley College and a wellness coach who founded CenterJoyPWR to help professionals of color heal racial trauma. As she was facing physical and mental stress, Stickmon asked herself, “How do I become well?” 

Naturally, this led her to a doctor’s office, where she was given an unexpected prescription: have fun. Despite her professional successes, Stickmon was experiencing emotional and behavioral symptoms that raised concern. It was only later that she learned she was dealing with Racial Battle Fatigue.

Understanding Racial Battle Fatigue

“We are constantly embattled with white supremacy.”

Janet stickmon, ethnic studies professor and wellness coach

Stickmon defines Racial Battle Fatigue as a three-pronged “stress response” to “racial micro- and macro-aggressions.” The term was coined by Dr. William A. Smith, a professor of ethnic studies and adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of Utah. According to Stickmon, Racial Battle Fatigue can be categorized as “physiological,” “psychological,” and “behavioral.”

For Stickmon, her Racial Battle Fatigue included physiological interruptions. She mentioned that she had sleep disturbances, chest pains, and heart palpitations. For others, they can experience issues such as teeth grinding, insomnia, clenched fists, eczema, gastrointestinal issues, worry, anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, fearfulness, isolation, high-effort coping, argumentativeness, or imposter syndrome.

When discussing the broader societal impact, Stickmon pointed to President Donald Trump’s executive orders as a prime example of racial macroaggressions, arguing that racism has been amplified by those in leadership.

Yet, these challenges are not new, Stickmon added.

Political Precedents

Stickmon is an educator of 26 years and recalled teaching social justice at a high school in the 90s and early 2000s. In the 1990s, fringe groups with white supremacist ideologies often pushed back against efforts to make education more inclusive, particularly when it came to ethnic studies and social justice curricula. These groups operated on the margins of society, but their presence was felt by educators like Stickmon, who faced direct resistance while teaching high school students about race, history, and systemic inequality.

At the time, this pushback was seen as isolated and extremist, but it signaled a deeper ideological resistance to progress in education. What was once dismissed as fringe slowly began to seep into more mainstream discourse, laying the groundwork for today’s more organized and politically empowered efforts to restrict what can be taught in classrooms.

However, none of this is new, Stickmon mentioned.

Since the days of Brown vs. The Board of Education, the conservative political machine has been trying to “win back their country,” she said. For example, Strom Thurmond set a record in 1957 when he delivered a 24 hour, 18 minute speech resisting the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Stickmon said that Thurmond was “very hellbent against having Black folks have their civil rights.” 

Now, the White House rolls back these same civil rights. From the steps taken to dismantle the Department of Education to the prospective shuttering of public media, President Trump’s administration has undoubtedly contributed to racial battle fatigue. 

None of this happens in a vacuum either.

Stickmon further noted that, “Project 2025 was very detailed and is very prominent in what’s been rolling out in these last couple of months.” She added that there is a “machine that is helping [Trump] do this.” 

Amid conservative machinations controlling our political landscape, Stickmon wonders about the oppositional strategy. She asked, “Where is the Democrat’s Project 2029 in preparation for the next election? Where was our 2025? Why isn’t there this sort of strategy being created to reclaim and maintain the democracy of this country?”

Healing Racial Battle Fatigue

Despite today’s political climate, Stickmon remains optimistic. She said, “My hope is that we see some kind of strategic coalition-building on a grand scale.” This could look many ways, but it begins internally. 

In this vein, Stickmon gave five key steps to combat Racial Battle Fatigue:

1. Recognize your Racial Battle Fatigue. Ask yourself, “What does my RBF look like?”
   
2. Listen to your body. Identify emotional, psychological, and physical signs of distress.
   
3. Address stressors. Incorporate relaxation practices like deep breathing, yoga, and massages to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
   
4. Build a support system. Surround yourself with medical professionals, indigenous healers, spiritual communities, and loved ones.
   
5. Prioritize joy. Rather than a one off solution for temporary relief, Stickmon suggests using joy as a “daily vitamin.”

As Stickmon reminds us, healing from Racial Battle Fatigue is not just about managing stress; it’s about reclaiming joy as a fundamental part of life. By prioritizing joy, building supportive communities, and taking intentional steps toward healing, individuals can fortify themselves against the weight of systemic oppression.

“Joy is essential to my health and wellbeing,” Stickmon noted.