Group activities

Basic training 

MindYour Colour 

Mindfulness MBSR&MBCT for People/Person of Color (POC) 

​

Why a mindfulness training for POC?
Various and recent studies in countries such as the US and Australia, but also in the Dutch-speaking region, have shown that the systematic experience of exclusion and discrimination has a major impact on people's health. Depression, cardiovascular disease and psychiatric illness among ethnic minority groups is a well-known phenomenon. In her book 'Racism. On wounds and resilience', Naima Charkaoui says that racism leaves deep wounds that are barely treated. Those wounds range from insomnia, depression and chronic stress to physical problems and even trauma. 

MBSR&MBCT are scientifically based methods that teach people how to deal with stress, burnout and recurring depression. We, the developers of Mind Your Colour, believe that POC could also benefit from this program by learning how to deal with stress caused by discrimination, exclusion and racism. By applying mindfulness, they can experience more resilience and balance to survive and find their way in a predominantly white society.

​

What's different?
Mind Your Color is based on the regular MBSR&MBCT. The structure of the 8-week program is the same. Yet there are clear differences. 
For example, we explicitly assume that for many POC conflicts and divisions are often - consciously or unconsciously - part of daily reality. For example, they often encounter all kinds of micro-aggression, that is, statements or actions that subtly offend POC. Think, for example, of statements such as: "I don't see any color, you know!" Well-meant perhaps, but hurtful because with such a comment you ignore an essential and clearly visible characteristic of a person. If POC experience this often enough, it can lead to them withdrawing into their own group, and the development of exclusion and alienation. 

​

The exercises in Mind Your Color, like all mindfulness exercises, focus on paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in an open, non-judgmental way. So we also pay attention to thoughts, feelings and physical sensations that you can experience as a POC when dealing with microaggression and its consequences. Mindfulness exercises can increase POC's emotional resilience and help them recognize and acknowledge unconscious bias. In this way they offer room to respond less reactively to perceived injustice and to deal with such situations in a more adequate manner. Tactics of slowing down and pausing are frequently built into the training. They help to reflect on microaggression, to look at it with some objectivity and distance. We no longer have to bury these unpleasant experiences deep within ourselves. After all, that leads to it piling up and getting worse. Techniques are taught to face worries and fears so that they no longer lead to recreating patterns of separation and division. 
The exercises are also aim to deal in a kind and caring way with the pain and confusion that can arise when POC shuts down or excludes itself because of your color and/or when others do.

​

What other method is used? 

We realize that experiences of discrimination, exclusion and/or racism will also differ from person to person for POC. To support participants to really and fully face these aspects, we rely on Rhonda Magee's 'ColorInsight' method. This method has four principles, which apply to both the trainer and the participants:

1. We start from the sincere desire, will and courage to turn to color, race and racism instead of turning away from them, so that we can explore the role these aspects play in our lives.

2. We develop a deeper and more nuanced ability to perceive and understand how color, race and racism operate in our own lives and the lives of others. 

3. We deepen our capacity to be with the other as they reflect on these aspects of their experiences, to listen openly and compassionately, and to work together for mutually healing personal and interpersonal transformation.

4. We are committed to seeking ways of acting that lead to liberation while touching on the collective and systemic aspects of discrimination, exclusion and racism. In doing so, we open the door to a form of transformation that benefits us all.

What are the effects and what do we hope to achieve with Mind Your Colour? 

In general, the effects are the same as regular mindfulness training in terms of mental balance. 

Specifically, there is also recognition and healing for the consequences of discrimination, exclusion and/or racism for POC. And increasing connectedness and awareness of 'common humanity' for all in a multi-diverse society. 

​

Is the training also for me?  

This training specifically focuses on POC who have roots in former colonies and/or come from the African diaspora. The practice of regular mindfulness training shows that it mainly attracts white participants. In our opinion, this is partly due to the fact that stress as a result of perceived discrimination, exclusion and racism is not recognized and/or acknowledged in regular mindfulness training. If POC already participate in these trainings, they will not easily discuss these experiences in the predominantly white environment of the training. Even if the trainer is a POC, it requires courage, vulnerability and openness from him or her to address this in such an environment. That is why this training focuses specifically on POC who have roots in former colonies and/or come from the African diaspora. We as developers, trainers and experience experts also have this background. If you belong to this group, feel very invited to participate.

​

​

The developers: Joyce Cordus, Sharda Joemai, Céline Gaza, Sherida Pengel