Unmask the mask: the power of self-love

The room was filled with the warmth of rhythm and blues as 28 Kean women, all African-American, gathered in a harmonious union to discuss self love and self care at the first “Unmask the Mask” event, hosted by the National Council of Negro Women.

The symbol of The National Council of Negro Women. Photo Courtesy of Tasha Dowbachuk.

“To me, unmasking the mask means taking off the face you give to the world,” said early childhood education major, Shakira Jackson.“I feel like being around people who are like you and being able to have people who understand your experiences throughout life truly helps.”

The night began with a Powerpoint presentation, designed to inform attendees about what may cause a female student to stress or develop low self esteem.

“You always have to be mindful about how you react to stress. There are physical, emotional and mental stressors and it really helps to identify what those stressors are,” first vice president, Tierra Hooker said.

The first part of the presentation listed the top five life stressors including money, career, family and health to which the majority of the group nodded and hummed in agreement.

“Your immune system actually shuts down when you are prone to stress. Having stomach pains, chest pains or rapid heartbeats can stem from anxiety alone,” said Hooker.

After describing the effects that stress may have upon the body, the council introduced techniques that can reduce stress and improve overall mental health. Tips such as getting involved in physical activities,breathing exercises, cardio exercise, or even just taking five seconds to oneself to calm down were suggested.

The circle of self-love and affirmations of empowerment, created by the members and participators. Photo Courtesy of Tasha Dowbachuk

“You can make a date with yourself, you can praise yourself when you do something awesome, or do creative things to unleash your creativity,” said Cresaya Hester, junior majoring in biology.

At the conclusion of the presentation, members of the council announced that they would be creating facial masks with Aztec Indian Healing Clay, mixed with apple cider vinegar or water. All of the activities reinforced the significance of leaving negativity behind and allowing new growth to surface. Students also created personal uplifting letters, signed anonymously, that would be distributed at random to individuals towards the end of the event to take home.

“Today, I affirm that my energy will be an outlet of positivity and not drag other people’s energy down,” proclaimed one of the students in confidence.