The Power of Activism as Self-Care: An Autoethnography of the Arrest of Activists in the Wake of the George Floyd Protests

Abstract

The United States has been convulsed as nationwide protests and riots erupted following the murder of a Black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis Police officer, Derek Chauvin. Chauvin was seen kneeling on Mr. Floyd’s neck while he was on the ground for approximately nine minutes. In this article, the authors briefly examine the history of political activism in the United States, the impact of riots on policy change and mobilization, as well as the mental health outcomes of activism. Through an autoethnographic account of a traumatic arrest of the first author who was arrested during the protests following the murder of George Floyd, the first author reveals the power of healing through community activism. This work contributes to intellectual literature as it examines the overall benefits of activism, suggesting that participating in activism as a form of self-advocacy and self-care is a key component of collective healing and liberation. In addition, in order to sustain one’s mental health while engaged in activism, the authors share a few methods of self-care that can be used by Black people, Indigenous people, and other People of Color (BIPOC). Methodologically, it demonstrates the usefulness of autoethnography for scholars across a myriad of disciplines.