‘People are waking up and they’re going through so much loss and everyone is screaming out for things to be different’
Rewind back to the beginning of lockdown, and the idea that we’d currently be having the biggest global protests against racism this generation, would’ve seemed unthinkable. But change is happening: racist statues are being removed and/or toppled in the UK, cities across America are pledging to defund the police, and brands are finally addressing their failures with diversity.
While it’s important to actively demonstrate your support (if you’re stuck, here’s a list), it’s also crucial to practise self-care to keep the momentum going and avoid burnout. Yesterday (June 9), Queer Eye’s Fab Five appeared on the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where culture expert Karamo spoke of the importance of self-care, not only for yourself, but as a way of helping others too.
“A lot of people have been like, ‘how are you going to promote a show during this time, where everyone is worried about a pandemic and also is supporting the Black Lives Matter movement,” he said. “I think what is beautiful is that people get to take a break, a mental and emotional break, which is necessary so that you can recharge and come back stronger to help other people.”
Speaking about the new season, he added: “It’s nice because you get to see these people that we’re helping (on the show), our heroes, turn into these full, whole and beautiful, vulnerable people. And it just recharges you and says, ‘You know what? I want to go out there and protest. I want to do better for tomorrow. Let me recharge, break down, and come back.’”
He also acknowledged the emotional impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the events surrounding the recent Black Lives Matter protests. “Most people don't even realise that they’re grieving right now,” he told Fallon. “They’re experiencing severe loss. What people don’t realise... you are grieving the loss of financial stability, of our regular schedules. And you have to go through a process of acknowledging it and starting to feel from it.”
“And that’s happening again,” he added. “It’s now compounded also with the fact that the Black Lives Matter movement is happening – people are waking up and they’re going through so much loss and everyone is screaming out for, ‘I need change. I need things to be different.’ And it’s a very beautiful moment that we’re living in.”
Watch the interview below.
