Rethinking Resilience: An Honest Look
We often say resilience is about being “full from within” so we can meet life’s challenges. But in a powerful episode of the CAMP podcast, we sat down with Kerry Cavers—founder of Moms Against Racism—and asked:
“What if resilience, as we usually define it, doesn’t apply to everyone?”
Kerry shared how the word resilience can land as harmful or dismissive for BIPOC communities—because for many, life has already delivered more challenge than anyone should bear.
It was an uncomfortable but necessary conversation.
What Kerry described instead was liberation: not the ability to endure more, but the right to live fully, without constantly having to prove worth or capacity.
🧠 The Neuroscience:
Chronic exposure to adversity—especially racism and systemic oppression—activates the brain’s threat response systems (amygdala, HPA axis). This “always on” stress state harms mental and physical health, and it’s not something more grit or breathing exercises can fix.
⚒️ This Week’s Practice:
Notice the Thought Start simply:
When you see a struggling child, student, or colleague, notice your first thought.
Ask:
Would I think the same if they looked different than me? Don’t judge it—just get curious. Awareness is the first step toward equity. Liberation begins with the questions we’re willing to ask ourselves.
Tune In:
