Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2022

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Preface-Introduction

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Preface-IntroductionChapter Summaries & Analyses

Preface Summary

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains references to the systemic impacts of racism, enslavement, white supremacy, and capitalism, including discussions of labor exploitation, health disparities, and racial violence. It also delves into personal narratives of exhaustion, grief, and trauma.

In her Preface to Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, Tricia Hersey narrates a personal journey underpinning the inception of the Nap Ministry, an organization that she founded that advocates for the value of rest as a transformative and subversive response to the relentless demands of modern life, particularly for Black women. Hersey’s narrative is rooted in a deeply personal pilgrimage toward rest, not merely as a practice but as a form of resistance and liberation from the systemic oppressions of racism, capitalism, and the ingrained culture of constant productivity.

Hersey begins by asserting the life-saving power of rest, framing it as an intuitive and self-evident truth born from her lived experience, rather than a hypothesis needing external validation. This personal conviction is what led her to prioritize rest amidst the demanding environment of her graduate studies, compounded by financial strains, family illness, and the omnipresent threat of racial violence. Her direct experiences with the “machine-level pace” of society and the cumulative traumas of poverty, exhaustion, racial injustice, and capitalist exploitation catalyzed Hersey’s adoption of rest as a form of resistance (3).

She describes her journey into rest as both an experiment and a necessity, a leap of faith beyond rational calculation, driven by physical and spiritual exhaustion. Her reflections on rest are intertwined with her academic pursuits in seminary, where she engaged deeply with the history of cultural trauma, including the narratives of enslaved peoples and the era of Jim Crow terrorism. This academic engagement, combined with her personal history and experiences, informed her understanding of rest as a revolutionary act deeply connected to the narratives of freedom and resistance in African-American history.

Hersey’s narrative is not just personal but also generational and communal, drawing on the legacies of resilience and survival tactics of her ancestors, particularly the women in her family. She recounts the stories of her ancestors, like her great-grandmother Rhodie, who, while living in Mississippi, had to stay up late into the night with a pistol in her apron pocket to protect herself and her family from the Ku Klux Klan. She also talks about her grandmother, a migrant from the Jim Crow South, who practiced daily rest as a radical act of self-preservation and resistance, an act that was both ordinary and subversive in the context of her life’s challenges. This familial legacy of rest, framed within the broader historical context of Black Americans’ struggle for dignity and autonomy, becomes a powerful testament to the radical potential of rest as a form of resistance.

The Nap Ministry, as described by Hersey, emerges from this confluence of personal history, cultural trauma, and the desire for a radical reimagining of the role of rest in our lives. It is presented not just as a personal practice but as a collective movement aimed at disrupting the dehumanizing grind of capitalist productivity and reclaiming space for healing, reflection, and community. Hersey’s vision for the ministry is both a critique of the prevailing work culture and a call to action. She invites others to join in creating a culture where rest is recognized as a fundamental right and a necessary condition for liberation.

Hersey articulates rest as something that extends beyond physical relaxation: It is imbued with spiritual, political, and therapeutic dimensions. She argues that rest is a gateway to deeper self-awareness, a tool for healing, and a practice of reclaiming agency and autonomy. It is a deliberate act of defiance against a system that commodifies human life and denies the intrinsic value of individuals outside their economic productivity.

Through her personal story, intertwined with historical and familial legacies, Hersey articulates a vision of rest as an essential, revolutionary practice that challenges the oppressive dynamics of capitalism and racism. She not only makes a call to reclaim one’s right to rest but also issues an invitation to participate in a collective movement toward a more humane, just, and restful society.

Introduction Summary

In the Introduction, Hersey lays the groundwork for her manifesto on rest as a revolutionary act and frames it as essential for dismantling the intertwined forces of capitalism and white supremacy. Hersey wishes readers rest and affirms their inherent worth, disconnected from productivity, inviting them to embrace rest as a vital form of self-care and resistance. She envisions the book as a dynamic tool for nurturing a rest-centered life and challenges the relentless pace imposed by societal norms and systemic exploitation.

Hersey emphasizes that society’s collective exhaustion is neither natural nor necessary, and she argues that rest is a radical step toward reclaiming agency and humanity. She describes rest as a conduit for justice, healing, and liberation, countering the dehumanizing grind of capitalism.

Through the tenets of the Nap Ministry, Hersey conveys rest as a multifaceted resistance strategy: It is a pushback against systemic devaluation of human life, a means to reclaim autonomy over our bodies, a catalyst for imagination and healing, and a way to recover our stolen “DreamSpace.” Hersey states that these principles stem from her transformative personal journey with rest, which revealed its significant impact on her consciousness and connection to ancestral wisdom. She asserts, “Rest is resistance because it is a counternarrative to the script of capitalism and white supremacy for all people” (33).

Hersey recounts her own struggles with the relentless demands of productivity and the societal valorization of overwork, sharing anecdotes to illustrate the pervasive reach of grind culture. From personal health crises to observing the early indoctrination of her son into a system that prioritizes efficiency over well-being, Hersey’s describes these experiences as an indication that there is an urgent need to resist the oppressive norms that dictate our relationship to work and rest.

She critically examines the historical roots of capitalist work ethics, tracing them back to the exploitative labor conditions of enslavement, and asserts that the contemporary glorification of constant productivity is a continuation of this legacy. Hersey challenges readers to recognize and resist the systemic forces that commodify human bodies and advocates for a reclamation of rest as an act of defiance and self-preservation.

Hersey articulates a call to awaken to the realities of systemic exploitation and to actively engage in rest as a transformative practice. She stresses that resting is not a passive act but a powerful form of protest that can catalyze personal and societal change. Through rest, she argues, people can reconnect with their intrinsic value and divinity and collectively envision and enact a more just and compassionate world.

The Introduction culminates in an invitation to join the movement of rest resistance by offering a vision of rest as a space for healing, creativity, and revolutionary change. Hersey encourages readers to prioritize rest not as a luxury or afterthought but as a fundamental right and essential component of a life lived in resistance to oppressive systems.

Preface-Introduction Analysis

Hersey utilizes literary devices such as personal narrative, repetition, and historical references to convey her message about The Healing Power of Rest. By grounding her argument in personal experience, connecting it to broader historical and cultural contexts, and employing evocative language, Hersey’s text makes both an intellectual and an emotional appeal to reconsider the meaning and purpose of rest and embrace it as a revolutionary act of self-preservation and resistance against oppressive systems.

Hersey’s use of narrative storytelling is evident in the personal anecdotes and historical references that ground her arguments in real-life experiences and collective memory. Hersey begins the Preface by grounding her narrative in personal experience, stating, “Rest saved my life. This is my truth” (4). By sharing her own journey with rest as a form of resistance and liberation, she validates personal exploration of one’s own experiences and perspectives on rest and self-care. This storytelling approach makes the abstract concept of rest as resistance tangible and relatable, and positions the text for both intellectual and emotional engagement.

Repetition is another significant device in Hersey’s writing. She repeats phrases like “People are waking up” and “Rest is resistance” to emphasize the importance and urgency of the message (12). The repetition of “Rest is resistance” serves as a mantra that underscores the central theme of rest as a radical act of resistance against oppressive systems. This rhetorical device reinforces the author’s message and encourages readers to internalize the importance of rest in challenging societal norms. It also serves to create a chant-like quality that underscores the work’s call to action.

Hersey moreover employs metaphors and imagery to evoke powerful emotions. For example, she describes rest as a “warm blanket swaddling us all back to our deepest selves” (4) and a “healing portal to our deepest selves” (7). These metaphors create a sense of comfort, safety, and introspection associated with rest, which makes her message more relatable and appealing.

Hersey also integrates historical and cultural references to enslavement. For example, in the Preface, she refers to Jim Crow terrorism and the Great Migration. By incorporating these references into her narrative, she contextualizes the legacy of exhaustion and trauma Black women and communities experience and reinforces The Critique of Capitalism and White Supremacy. This approach adds depth to her argument and highlights the interplay between personal experiences and systemic injustices.

Hersey’s direct address to the reader, using second-person pronouns like “you,” establishes an intimate and conversational tone. This choice evokes a shared space of understanding and action, which makes her ideas more accessible and compelling. For example, when she says, “You are enough” (11), it serves as an affirmation that directly counters the devaluing narratives of grind culture and develops a personal connection to the message of liberation and self-worth, underscoring the theme of The Importance of Community Care and Self-Care.

Furthermore, the evocative language Hersey uses, such as “DreamSpace,” “portal,” and “spiritual practice,” imbues the text with a poetic and mystical quality. This language choice elevates the act of resting from a mundane necessity to a sacred and revolutionary act, thus placing her reflections on a deeper spiritual and emotional level; it transforms the concept of rest into a visionary and healing practice, which helps expand the perception of its importance.

Finally, Hersey’s tone throughout this part is nurturing yet assertive, which helps balance the call for gentle self-care with a strong critique of societal systems. This dual tone validates the fatigue and frustration people commonly experience while also empowering them to envision and enact change. Her empathetic yet critical approach helps to dismantle the shame often associated with rest and encourages a collective reevaluation of its importance.

The practicality of applying this philosophy in the daily lives of individuals who are entrenched in these very systems, however, raises questions about its feasibility. The aspirational nature of Hersey’s argument, while inspiring, may not fully account for the complex realities and constraints that people face, particularly those from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The premise assumes a universal ability to engage in rest as resistance, yet this overlooks the nuanced challenges that different individuals encounter, which may limit the accessibility and implementation of Hersey’s vision.