Tricia Hersey

Tricia Hersey (she/her) is an artist, poet, theologian and community organizer. She is the founder of The Nap Ministry, an organization that examines rest as a form of resistance by curating sacred spaces for the community to rest via Collective Napping Experiences, immersive workshops, performance art installations, and social media. Tricia is a global pioneer and originator of the movement to understand the liberatory power of rest. She is the creator of the Rest is Resistance and Rest as Reparations frameworks. Her research interests include Black liberation theology, womanism, somatics, and cultural trauma. Tricia is a Chicago native and currently lives in South Georgia.

Rest Is Resistance is rooted in spiritual energy and centered in Black liberation, womanism, somatics, and Afrofuturism. With captivating storytelling and practical advice, all delivered in Hersey’s lyrical voice and informed by her deep experience in theology, activism, and performance art, Rest Is Resistance is a call to action, a battle cry, a field guide, and a manifesto for all of us who are sleep deprived, searching for justice, and longing to be liberated from the oppressive grip of Grind Culture.

A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats and all Judy Blume books. A fun fact about my childhood reading habits: I loved reading the Encyclopedia. My parents bought a set for the family when I was in 4th grade and I would spend hours on the floor in our living room reading the entire set.

My favorite account on Instagram is @effinbirds. It’s an account of bird illustrations with sarcastic and funny text. It makes me laugh everyday. My second favorite is @tambourineminstry. It is a page dedicated to the wonderful tambourine. It highlights people playing the tambourine and brings me so much energy and good vibes. 

My favorite account on Twitter is @nasahubble. I love astronomy and space. The photos from the Hubble telescope are awe inspiring and place me in a daydreaming mood.

The Will To Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by bell hooks. I recommend everyone around me to read everything written by hooks. This particular book is a powerful healing tool.

I would love to have lunch with the poet Nikki Giovanni. I have been in awe of her since I was 12 years old. I checked out from the library every poetry book available by her at my school’s library. Her book Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day is my favorite. I memorized her poem “Ego-Tripping” as a teenager and still can recite it today. I would love to have a quiet lunch with her on an outdoor patio while I soak in her brilliance and wisdom.

I have the album “A Seat at the Table” by Solange on repeat for the last two weeks. It’s perfect for car rides. I have also been listening to a playlist I created for The Washington Post.

Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey Read by Tricia Hersey – Audiobook Excerpt

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