Cristin explores the lessons grief offers us, not just about loss, but about grace, community, and resilience.

Drawing on insights from From Grief to Grievance: Combined Axes of Personal and Collective Grief Among Black Americans (Wilson & O’Connor, 2022), Cristin examines how grief among Black women often operates on two levels: personal and collective. From the loss of loved ones to the systemic erosion of security, identity, and belonging, grief has been an ever-present reality in Black life. The episode connects these layers of loss to the mass layoffs of over 300,000 Black women in corporate spaces, the rollback of DEI initiatives, and the broader attacks on education, representation, and community care.

She invites listeners to hold space for their own losses, the seen and unseen, while also granting themselves the grace to slow down, feel, and heal.

Reflection Prompts

What does giving myself grace look like when I’m hurting or uncertain?

How has grief changed my priorities or purpose?

How can I find joy or peace, even in the midst of loss?