Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains references to racism, white supremacy, and systemic injustice.

Tricia Hersey, the author of Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, emerges as a pivotal figure whose life and work embody the book’s core themes of dismantling the oppressive dynamics of capitalism and white supremacy through the radical act of rest. Hersey, with her rich academic background in theology and her role as the founder of the Nap Ministry, brings a unique perspective to the discourse on rest as a form of resistance against the white supremacist structures that govern modern society.

Hersey’s journey into rest advocacy is deeply rooted in her personal experiences with exhaustion and the relentless demands of productivity inherent in capitalist culture. Having navigated the pressures of graduate school and the constant fear of racial discrimination, Hersey turned to rest as a means of survival and resistance, which laid the groundwork for what would become the Nap Ministry. This initiative focuses on the liberating power of rest and challenges the toxic grind culture that prioritizes productivity over people’s well-being.

Her academic endeavors, particularly in theology, have significantly shaped her understanding and critique of systemic injustices. Her studies provided her with a historical and ethical framework to explore the intersections of race, labor, and rest, which enabled her to articulate an in-depth critique of how capitalist demands have historically exploited Black bodies. This scholarly background, combined with her personal struggles, fuels her mission to reclaim rest as a space of healing and liberation.

In Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, Hersey’s life story is a testament to the themes she champions. She narrates her experiences and the lessons learned from her grandmother’s rest practices, which served as a form of quiet rebellion against the dehumanizing pace of life imposed by oppressive systems. Hersey extends these personal insights to a broader socio-political context and illustrates how systemic racism and capitalism have perpetuated a cycle of exhaustion and exploitation, particularly in Black communities.

Moreover, Hersey doesn’t merely discuss rest as a concept but embodies it as a transformative practice by linking it to broader struggles against systemic oppression. Her advocacy for rest as a form of resistance and her critical analysis of capitalism and white supremacy are not just theoretical propositions; they are lived realities and strategies for survival and liberation.

Hersey’s voice is both a guide and a challenge. She balances the roles of educator, healer, and activist, imbuing the book with a sense of urgency and possibility. Her work exemplifies how individual well-being is inextricably linked to larger societal structures and historical legacies. By centering rest in her discourse, Hersey reclaims it as a powerful act of defiance and a pathway to individual and communal empowerment. Her work transcends the genres of personal memoir or academic treatise; it is a manifesto and a call to action that challenges readers to rethink the value of rest in the face of relentless societal demands.