Provide easier access to mental health resources for Black people.
I know so many people that both need therapy and want therapy, but they aren’t getting it for a variety of reasons. Some don’t have health insurance that covers it. If they do have insurance, it doesn’t cover the therapist that is a good fit for them. Providing both funding for therapy, as well as creating a structure where insurance companies are incentivized to actually make it easy for us to get the help that is needed would be a game changer. There also aren’t enough Black therapists out there, and any systemic changes that could assist in helping more Black people get into the field would also be very impactful.
As part of my series about “authors who are making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Zee Clarke.
Zee Clarke , author of Black People Breathe, has spent over 20 years leading teams at Fortune 500 companies and tech startups in Silicon Valley. After experiencing a number of challenges in the workplace from microaggressions from colleagues, to disparate treatment around salary and promotions, she pursued extensive mindfulness training in India to help her manage these challenges. Founder of Reclaiming Flow LLC, she leverages her toolkit of meditation, breathwork, yoga, and much more, to teach others how mindfulness and breathwork can improve their well-being despite any challenges that race or gender might present. She is a Harvard Business School graduate who applies holistic healing practices to corporate environments. You can follow her on YouTube, or @zeeclarkebreathes on Instagram & Tiktok for weekly breathwork practices and tools.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I grew up in a predominantly Black, low-income neighborhood in Washington DC during a time when the city was known as the “murder capital of America.” I saw my first drive-by shooting when I was seven. I saw my last drive-by shooting when I was seventeen, the year that I left for college.
I got a scholarship to go to an all-girls, predominantly white school in an affluent suburb. My first year there, none of the girls spoke to me. The only Black girl in the class, I spent recesses sitting on the side of the playground alone writing sad poems. I felt out of place. I felt like I didn’t belong. From finding a death threat in my backpack in 6th grade, to teachers and guidance counselors discouraging me from taking honors/AP classes because they would be “too hard,” my sense of self-confidence and self-worth were extremely lacking. I was so nervous that if I didn’t perform, whether that was in my academic classes or my violin competitions, I would lose the one opportunity I had to “make it” in this world. I knew too many people in my neighborhood who ended up either in juvie or pregnant at age twelve or thirteen.
I wish I knew the breathing techniques that I know now, to help me calm my nerves, build up my confidence, and feel whole during what was a very stressful and emotionally charged period of my life.
When you were younger, was there a book that you read that inspired you to take action or changed your life? Can you share a story about that?
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez played such a big role in my life that I read it in high school in English, and then read it again in college in Spanish. What blew my mind was how cycles and patterns repeated themselves across multiple generations. Later in life, I learned about epigenetics and some of the science behind this. While some might have found it comforting that in the end of the story, all of the pain and suffering was destined, I took that as a personal challenge to break the patterns and cycles in my own family lineage. I come from generations of poverty. My grandparents on both sides couldn’t read or write. My ancestors were “the help,” cleaning rich people’s homes, treated like second class citizens in employer’s households.
I remember one day when I was little, my mom took me to work and had me help her lick stamps and place them on envelopes. I was exhausted, and the stack of envelopes was so high. I said to her, “Mama, I don’t want to do this when I grow up.” Instead of receiving this as an insult, she knew that, in fact, I was motivated to break the cycle of poverty. This was my motivation to work harder in my classes. This was my motivation to not get in any trouble at school. This was my motivation to reject anyone’s expectations of what I was or wasn’t capable of because of the color of my skin. I went to Harvard for college despite all of the systemic barriers that existed.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
This story is funny in hindsight because the lesson seems so obvious now, but it was not funny to me then. When I first started my business I needed to make a website, and someone referred me to a web designer who had made sites for some renowned individuals with lovely websites. I had seen his work, and it looked like he had a solid design eye. In the interview process, I failed to ask what he specifically did in the website creation process. I assumed he did both the design and the build.
When I got the first draft of the site, I was shocked at the disconnect between my expectations and the reality of the quality of his work. I gave the creative direction to think, modern luxury spa. His version looked more like the website of a dollar store from the ’90s. It was so off brand that there was no way I could publish it. It was then that I started asking the questions I should have asked at the beginning. For example: “What exactly did you do for those clients? Which pieces did you own versus what others contributed?” It turns out that the other clients had him rebuild existing sites on new web platforms. He didn’t do any of the actual design. I ended up finding someone else to design it, and then I did have him build it. However, my big takeaways were twofold:
Don’t make assumptions.
Be thoughtful and ask the right questions.
Can you describe how you aim to make a significant social impact with your book?
Black people experience microaggressions and racism on a daily basis. What many of us don’t realize is that these experiences are having a negative impact on both our mental health and our physical health. Research now shows that racism causes traumatic stress, linked to depression, anger, hypervigilance, and low self-esteem. Studies also show that racism and discrimination are the direct cause of the higher rates of both heart disease and high blood pressure in African-Americans.
Black People Breathe empowers Black people and all people of color with mindfulness and breathing practices to heal when they have race-related challenges. When a boss says something offensive at work, tools like the Belly Breath can calm our nervous systems so that we don’t respond in a triggered way that could lead to us getting fired. When we get stopped by the police, the same technique allows us to remain calm and not respond in a way that could get us killed. Whether you experience anger, low-self esteem, or anxiety as a result of experiences with racism, this book offers specific tools to manage whatever challenging emotion comes up.
For allies, Black People Breathe can provide powerful insights and empathy around what it’s like to be Black in America to inspire you to drive change through small and large actions in your life. In addition, though the causes of your stress might be different, the breathwork tools shared can be just as impactful in your day to day challenges as well.
Can you share with us the most interesting story that you shared in your book?
Many friends of mine from business school and from years working in tech in Silicon Valley have said to me, “That wouldn’t happen to a Black person like you.” They were referring to things like racial profiling and harassment by the police. “Like you” referred to my educational and professional pedigree. The thing is that when I walk out into the world, I don’t have my resume plastered on my forehead. I am treated like any other Black person is treated, and sometimes that is not the most amazing experience.
In the chapter, Shopping While Black, I share an experience where I had just spent $220 at a grocery store and I was in the parking lot putting the groceries in my trunk when the police arrived with their sirens. They asked me whether I purchased the groceries. Apparently a grocery store employee had called them and said that I stole deli meat. Although I showed the police the receipt, and we walked through every item on it, they still didn’t believe that I was innocent. They insisted that there was stolen meat in my car. I am a vegan, so finding meat was going to be an impossible endeavor. Since they didn’t believe that I was a vegan either, they spent hours searching every crevice of every bag in my car. I was going on a cross country camping road trip through national parks. Imagine all of your camping gear, clothes, sleeping bag, everything on the concrete floor. Everything, except the imaginary stolen meat.
It is in these moments, when we feel powerless and scared that it is so important to take deep breaths. Something as simple as using the wrong tone with the police could get a Black person killed. I did my breathing techniques so I could calm my nervous system and not make any wrong moves during this long interaction. Because of my breathing practices, I was able to use the kindest, code-switching voice that I could muster, and as a result I got out of the situation safely.
What was the “aha moment” or series of events that made you decide to bring your message to the greater world? Can you share a story about that?
It was the summer of 2020. There were protests across the country for George Floyd, and for racial justice in general. More and more footage was coming out of Black people getting murdered by the police. I was overwhelmed with fear, as I could hear the actions of the riot police outside of my window. I was overwhelmed with anger that Black people were still being treated in such an inhumane way. I was overwhelmed with stress. As one of the only Black people in leadership at work, a lot of extra diversity, equity, and inclusion work fell on to my shoulders.
It was the breathing practices I learned in India that helped me to fall asleep during those nights when it was all just too much. It was my breathing practices that helped me to not respond to microaggressions at work in a way that would negatively impact my job. It was my breathing practices that helped me to still find a sense of peace amidst the chaos. What I realized was that I was not alone in the emotional rollercoaster and stress. Every Black friend that I had was going through similar challenges. I found myself sharing what I was doing to maintain my sanity with Black people in my community. That is when I realized that this was bigger than just the people that I knew. Black people across the country were suffering, and there was something inside of me that knew that I couldn’t sit back and just watch. I knew that I had tools to share that could help our people deal with the racism that didn’t seem to be waning.
Without sharing specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
I teach mindfulness and breathwork workshops to BIPOC communities at fortune 500 companies to help them thrive despite race-related challenges in the workplace. After one of my workshops on Mindfulness to Heal from Microaggressions, I received a note on LinkedIn from a Black man in his 50s who said that he was not one to ever cry. He said that he wasn’t very in touch with his emotions, but this workshop was a huge eye opener for him.
He never realized that all of the things he had experienced throughout his decades of work experience were actually microaggressions that were impacting his health. He cried because he realized for the first time in his life that he wasn’t the problem. And, he finally made the connection that all of the things he was experiencing, low self-esteem, anxiety, exhaustion, and high blood pressure, were a direct result of how he was treated. He cried because not only could he name the problem, he now had tools to feel better whenever challenging things happened at work, whenever he felt triggered, whenever he felt like it was all just too much.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
#1) Provide easier access to mental health resources for Black people.
I know so many people that both need therapy and want therapy, but they aren’t getting it for a variety of reasons. Some don’t have health insurance that covers it. If they do have insurance, it doesn’t cover the therapist that is a good fit for them. Providing both funding for therapy, as well as creating a structure where insurance companies are incentivized to actually make it easy for us to get the help that is needed would be a game changer. There also aren’t enough Black therapists out there, and any systemic changes that could assist in helping more Black people get into the field would also be very impactful.
#2) Stronger enforcement and consequences for discrimination.
Having been to a number of implicit bias trainings in the workplace, it is my opinion that the majority of them are ineffective. People are getting discriminated against on a daily basis in the workplace, in stores, at airports, at restaurants, and everywhere. So the question is, what else can be done? I encourage leaders to think about what can be done to ensure that individuals and organizations are more conscientious of how they treat people. I believe that stronger enforcement and more harsh consequences for discrimination are needed to discourage behavior that continues to be prevalent in our day to day lives.
#3) Increased representation in leadership across the board (government, companies, non-profits).
So many important decisions that impact Black people are made in rooms where there is not a single Black voice to be heard. If more Black people were in leadership positions, other leaders would become more aware of the challenges we face, and policies, products, and services would be created that would shape a more just society.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
To me, leadership is 1) leading by example and 2) empowering others to be their best selves. In the last twenty years, the only Black boss I ever had did this. He led by example in the way that he did everything from operating with strong ethics, to prioritizing strategy and execution, to ensuring a healthy work life balance. He also empowered me and others on the team to own key areas in a way that felt like he was there for me if I needed him, but he trusted me completely. He offered support when I needed him to use his influence to get things done. He offered me really helpful suggestions and introductions for the work I was doing. Because he trusted me, I felt empowered to make decisions, and I felt confident that I could do the job. Because he believed in me, I believed in me. This was very early in my career, and I will always remember and value that time.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
#1) Invest your time in systems rather than to-do lists.
I found myself constantly swamped with things I needed to do. I found that I never could get to the bottom of the list, and instead the list kept getting longer and longer. This led to an unsustainable level of stress and a generally ineffective approach to productivity. What I realized was the importance of investing time in the creation of systems and repeatable processes which resulted in my to-do lists actually getting shorter! I experienced lower stress levels and increased productivity!
#2) Worrying about problems doesn’t solve them.
I often was unable to fall asleep at night because I was worrying about my problems. I would play out all of the worst case scenarios and my anxiety was through the roof. I found that doing stress relief practices like a body scan was helpful in allowing me to relax. From a more relaxed place, I was much better at finding solutions to whatever was keeping me up!
#3) The best ideas come during times of rest.
I used to think that working more and working harder was the key to success. What I realized is that if you’re constantly working, you don’t allow yourself the space to be creative. It is when I take some time to go for a walk or a run that my best ideas come to me. When I wake up after a full night’s sleep, the solutions just pop into my head.
#4) Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
One of the symptoms of imposter syndrome is that you typically turn down help so that you can prove your worth as an individual. Negative thoughts like, “If I ask for help, it means I’m not good enough, I’m not smart enough, I’m not capable enough.” The thing is, we are all human beings. We only have a certain amount of hours in the day. It is absolutely impossible for us to do everything. I tried the “do everything” method and it led to both exhaustion and me not doing anything well. An amazing mentor asked me the question, “What is the highest and best use of your time?” Some things you’re amazing at and you enjoy doing them. Do those things. There are other things that aren’t in your wheelhouse, or you don’t enjoy them. Get help for those things!
I also used to be ashamed to ask for help from those who either had connections or resources that could advance my cause. This has been the hardest thing to unlearn. What I realized is that people actually enjoy helping others. So ask for help whenever you need it!
#5) Trust your gut.
I used to be filled with self-doubt. I used to be highly dependent on what others thought I should do because I didn’t trust my own intuition. I assumed that others knew best. Over the years I have realized that my own inner wisdom not only exists, but can be a powerful guide if I just stop to listen to it. When I pause and I see how my body is feeling about a certain decision, the answer is clear. You know when something doesn’t feel right. Perhaps it’s a tightness in your belly or your chest or your throat. This is the inner wisdom trying to communicate. This is your opportunity to pay attention and listen.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Begin again.” I learned this during a ten day silent meditation retreat. Everyday we meditated for eleven hours, and at the beginning of each meditation session, the teacher would say, “Begin again.” Maybe yesterday’s session was filled with distractions. Maybe your back was in pain from sitting in a cross-legged position for so many hours without moving. The instruction was to leave all of that behind, and begin again.
What I learned through this practice is that every day is a new day. In the tech start-up world we often say, “Fail fast, fail often.” This involves beginning again. You test new ideas, and if they work, then great! If they don’t, you learned something and you can try something else, perhaps something better. You are not your past. Every single morning when you wake up, you have the power to begin again.
This applies not only to work, but also to one’s personal life. So many of us have traumas that we have experienced. We have things in our lives that we might believe define who we are. Of course our past influences how we show up today, but we have the power to shape our future. Always remember, you have the power to “Begin again.”
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?
Amanda Gorman. I love this quote: “There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” Often as we get older, we get more jaded. We think we understand the world, but I believe that the next generation has some powerful wisdom to share with us. I would love to hear her perspective on just how we can both see the light and be the light as we work towards a better world.
Zee Clarke , author of Black People Breathe, has spent over 20 years leading teams at Fortune 500 companies and tech startups in Silicon Valley. After experiencing a number of challenges in the workplace from microaggressions from colleagues, to disparate treatment around salary and promotions, she pursued extensive mindfulness training in India to help her manage these challenges. Founder of Reclaiming Flow LLC, she leverages her toolkit of meditation, breathwork, yoga, and much more, to teach others how mindfulness and breathwork can improve their well-being despite any challenges that race or gender might present. She is a Harvard Business School graduate who applies holistic healing practices to corporate environments. You can follow her on YouTube, or @zeeclarkebreathes on Instagram & Tiktok for weekly breathwork practices and tools.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Zee Clarke Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.