“Something’s Gotta Give”: Hustle Culture, Burnout and the Idea of Radical Self-Love in the Black Community
I’m not made for the hustle culture.
Taking breaks or a sabbatical when the burnout is real—this is commonplace for white middle- to upper-middle-class folk but anathema to the rest of us.
Instead of exalting the values of life, self-preservation, and self-care, most BIPOC (those from the greater black diaspora) revere the virtues of relentless effort and unyielding determination, the “grind”, the “hustle”.
Hustle culture seems omnipresent in all aspects of my life, to an almost annoying degree.
It feels like everyone I cross paths with, whether in my daily encounters or within my social circles, is deeply entrenched in the hustle life.
My cousin operates an Etsy shop peddling an eclectic range of products, from vibrant and kaleidoscopic woven baskets to elegant candleholders. She makes $100 a day in this venture back home in Kenya (a nice chunk of change considering what is happening to the Kenyan shilling).
However, she is still scrambling for money to be able to get a Visa to travel to the United States in order to obtain an IT degree at a Canadian university.
My uncles are part-time Uber drivers, DoorDash couriers, and gig workers for Amazon and UPS, yet they have advanced degrees, sometimes multiple degrees, and still have to carve a way out of no way when accent bias and discrimination in the tech and business fields toward black men seem to be rising.
My aunts embrace entrepreneurial spirits, crafting cookies, assembling fish plates, vending lemonade, and making hair to make ends meet. One of my favorite hair braiders is a full-time nurse practitioner in her home country of Ghana but still sells waist beads and handbags out of her shop. Her husband, when not cutting hair as a barber, also (you guessed it!) drives Uber.
Outdated degree requirement standards based on antiquated and oftentimes racist international policy have people like my former student, who holds a master's degree from Afghanistan in education, attending foundational classes in a two-year college (including ESL).
I have daily encounters with hawkers peddling a variety of “look good, feel good” products, spanning from essential oils to incense sticks, skin creams, and oud perfume. These guys are the most baffling, as they (not to promote criminality) work in organized groups, or rather gangs, with ‘territory’ to not only sell goods (some stolen, some legit) but even panhandle on the streets from day to night—only to go to their soft beds and warm meals in their own homes.
Paradoxically, my own pursuits often flounder to an almost Shakespearean degree.
Writing could be considered a hustle if it paid (though it could with sustained effort, which is lacking in me).
But a gnawing doubt has taken root: I question whether it is truly necessary to be a hustler to survive, especially as a black person in the United States.
I am starting to believe that I’m not made for it.
I’m not made for the hustle culture.
Having a good career and earning enough to live should be the norm, but it isn’t. Many black people embrace hustle culture in an effort to break generational trauma and build generational wealth. But it is neither feasible nor sound to claim that everyone could become a millionaire or famous simply by “working hard”.
In actuality, hustle culture does the exact opposite: in the quest to build a better life for their families, hustlers often get tired, frustrated, and confused when their efforts are for naught.
Hustle culture has a history that goes back to American chattel slavery.
This system, which existed from the mid-17th century to the late 19th century, enslaved Africans and forced them into hard labor under oftentimes draconian conditions.
Enslaved individuals had no control over their work or the fruits of their labor, even though this same hard work contributed significantly to the prosperity of the United States. Black people historically have been denied the same basic opportunities that their white peers take for granted, so they feel that they have to go above and beyond when it’s not actually necessary.
Both ‘hustle’ culture and chattel slavery involve aspects of labor exploitation. In ‘hustle’ culture, the pressure to constantly work and achieve can lead to employers or individuals extracting excessive labor from employees without adequate compensation or consideration for their well-being.
Similarly, chattel slavery was the ultimate form of labor exploitation, where enslaved individuals were forced into grueling work without any compensation or benefits.
Enslaved individuals were driven to work tirelessly due to coercion, fear, and the necessity to avoid punishment. This culture of constant labor as a means of survival laid the foundation for the idea of working hard without reaping equitable rewards, which echoes in modern hustle culture.
The idea of working hard is a thread that weaves through the fabric of humanity, transcending cultural and geographical divides.
Yet, for black individuals, this concept carries a unique weight. The aspiration for meaningful work and financial stability should be an attainable norm. Regrettably, reality often falls short of this ideal. Many black individuals grapple not only with daily financial struggles but also with the unattainable notion that anyone can attain riches or fame solely through sheer persistence.
But how do we redefine success and alleviate the strain of hustle culture on black communities?
There are actionable steps we can take to chart a more equitable and sustainable course:
- Collective Advocacy: Amplifying our collective voices can galvanize policies that deconstruct systemic barriers and champion equal opportunities. Grassroots movements and community engagement hold the potential to initiate change at the local level.
- Mentorship and Networking: Creating avenues for mentorship and networking can bridge the gap, affording Black individuals access to the same opportunities that their counterparts take for granted. Mentorship cultivates growth, offers guidance, and opens doors that would otherwise remain closed.
- Cultivating Holistic Success: Success must extend beyond financial milestones, encompassing mental well-being, emotional fulfillment, and communal progress alongside monetary achievements.
- Advocacy for Policies: We must champion policies that endorse work-life balance, equitable compensation, and mental health resources that can alleviate the strain imposed by hustle culture. Sustained progress necessitates the pursuit of systemic transformation.
- Empowerment through Education: Crafting educational initiatives that arm Black individuals with essential skills and empower them to navigate systemic hurdles can foster self-reliance and resilience.
It’s important to recognize that there is a balance between working hard and taking care of oneself.
While hustle culture can provide motivation and a sense of purpose, it’s crucial to prioritize rest and self-care to prevent burnout and ensure long-term success.
Ultimately, success should not be measured solely by financial or material gains, but also by one’s overall well-being and happiness.
