Why Black Joy? Why not? Who doesn’t want to share the joys of life…The things that make you smile or laugh…Or the feel-good moments!! I am super excited about these next few weeks! Over the course of the next 30 days, I will be sharing my moments of Black Joy! These moments may be personal to me, a creative expression, or some sort of acknowledgment or spotlight. Regardless of how big or small, I hope it brings some sort joy, provide some encouragement, or simply put a smile on your face!
Today’s Black Joy moment is an affirmation that I wanted to share…
As I ALWAYS say, “Sharing is Caring!” Why keep that sunshine to yourself, when you can spread it around!
What is Black Joy? Black joy is a celebratory term that has been used to acknowledge and highlight the experiences of happiness, pleasure, and contentment within the Black community. As a powerful and affirming concept, Black Joy incorporates resilience, creativity, and the strength of Black individuals and communities locally, nationally, and globally. In simple terms It’s Happiness…It’s Resistance…It’s Freedom!! Ultimately, Black joy is a counter-narrative to many existing dominant narratives of pain, oppression, and struggle that often define the representation of Black people in media and society.
Every year around this time I am led to share, promote, and celebrate the many ways in which Black Joy is personified and expressed. Over the next 30 days, there will be daily posts (via the BFF website, Instagram, and Facebook) celebrating the various forms and expressions of Black Joy. This is seen through art, music, dance, local/national/global community engagement, personal achievements, storytelling, and soooo much more!!
Now before we dive into our celebration, check out some of these articles to get your mind ready!!
2022-2023 another school has come and made its mark in the universe. You know I have to say it every time I write these reflections, I LOVE WHAT I DO!! However, this year is the beginning of what is going to be a continuous cycle of the floodgate of tears! This year’s class of 2023 is really special as this is the first class of students that I have seen since they were freshmen entering VCU!! Many of these students have been in at least two of my classes…I have watched them grow and mature…I have seen their struggles and their wins…I’ve met their parents, relatives and children…And seeing them walk across the stage and become graduates…It is truly a blessing to see the impact one can make in a matter of a few short years. Just take a look and see below….
Memories from VCU AFAM Graduation-Spring 2023
Not only is this year been special because of the new graduates, but also because I made it through a major career milestone. I made it through the half-way point of my tenure-track process…the third-year review!! Gathering documents, writing professional statements, obtaining references from students, updating my CV, experiencing teaching evaluations, and so much more…talk about an intense process…But I made it!! I will admit not only was this an experience of strength and dedication, but one of reflection. Going back and looking at all the work that I have done in these three years just blows my mind. I know I’m a hard worker, but just looking back and seeing it all documented on paper (physically and digitally) takes it to another level. This review process also showed me how wide and vast my community of support is and the impact they make on me. Shout out to all those who looked over my essays, shared their past experiences with the process, gave insight, gave an encouraging word, served as cheerleaders, calmed my nerves, took me out for a drink, or were just a listening ear. I think some folks do not realize the role they have in either bringing someone down, or elevating them to the highest heights! All in all, and in all honesty I am thankful for both because I know who to continue to take with me on my journey and who to let go.
In addition to my own research endeavors, I was super excited to mentor and advise several of my Capstone students as they presented at the 2023 VCU Undergraduate Research Symposium!! I was thoroughly impressed with their research projects and super proud to see them share it with the VCU community!!
AFAM Capstone Students presenting at the 2023 VCU Poster Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creativity
2022-2023 as noted in the title has definitely been one for the books! I had three chapters come out in edited collections, a solo article on the role of Black girl storytelling in comic books, served as a keynote for VCU Dentistry school and Culpeper, VA’s first “CulpeperCon”, and to culminate everything I received my universities inaugural “Faculty Champion Award”.
In addition, to witnessing the success of my VCU students and my own, I also got a chance to celebrate one of my mentees and BFF intern Jaya Robinson as she graduated from high school and is headed to Spelman College (AUC Love!!)!
I will say this at the end of every semester and school year, I am always hyped and re-energized. Whatever feelings I had, depending on the type, were further magnified or lessened to make room for the good. So as I prepare for another productive summer, I can’t help but reflect on the highs, stress, joys, and wins!
April 17th, 2003… 20 Years Ago today I became a member of the #1 Sorority in the land…Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
I remember the day like it was yesterday on the campus of Clark Atlanta University!! It was a sea of red marching through the promenade! And I saw the light…and it was Crimson and Cream!!
And on that day not only did I become a Soror of DST, but also a part of the 24 Vibrant Visionaries of Virtue. As part of the 24 VVV, I was the #20 (S/O to the back of the line) and known by many names… “Love Jones,” “Malcolmina X,” “Harlemshake,” “Digable Planets,” and “Bob Marley”!
Check out some of the many memories below:
Through the years SO MUCH has happened, but I will say this we have definitely embodied our name Vibrant, Visionaries of Virtue!! To this day we are doctors, lawyers, business owners, counselors/therapists, educators, nurses, researchers, STEM leaders, entrepreneurs, accountants, bankers, executive directors, court administrators, and just awesome, amazing women!! We About That Business!!
And OHHHHH the stories we could tell!! Never a dull moment with the #24VVV!!
All in all, I would not have it any other way than to cross the burning sands and come into Delta Land with these ladies!
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year’s 2023 theme is about how we can #EmbraceEquity!!
How will you forge women’s equality and #EmbraceEquity? Check out some available resources and things you can do to celebrate!!
Challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion
See the Google Doodle for the day…The vignettes within each “GOOGLE” letter highlight just a few of the many areas in which women around the world support each other to progress and improve each other’s quality of life. In honor of women across the globe who are supporting each other across all aspects of life — Happy International Women’s Day!
March is Women’s History Month!! Each year the National Women’s History Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women’s History Month, this year’s theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”
The 2023 theme recognizes “women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, news, and social media.” How appropriate and timely!!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all my BFF Family and Friends!! As a way of sharing my appreciation, here is a music playlist as well as film list to get you in the spirit!! Enjoy!!
Here is a playlist I created called “Black Love Through Music” on Spotify
And if you need a few suggestions of what to watch while cozied up on the couch, hanging out with that special someone, or with your crew check out this list of films to watch:
Claudine (1974)
Hav Plenty (1997)
How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
Brown Sugar (2002)
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Rafiki (2018)
Naz & Maalik (2015)
Purple Rain (1984)
Carmen Jones (1954)
The Photograph (2020)
Breakin’ All The Rules (2004)
Nothing But A Man (1964)
Sylvie’s Love (2020)
Poetic Justice (1993)
Jason’s Lyric (1994)
Moonlight (2016)
Beyond the Lights (2014)
Really Love (2020)
I Will Follow (2010)
I Think I Love My Wife (2007)
Love Jones (1997)
Just a little something to get you in the mood for today and even for the rest of the week and month!! Happy V-Day!! Enjoy and Spread the Love!!
Today marks the first day of Black History Month 2023!!
This year’s theme as designed by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is “Black Resistance”! Oh how appropriate!! As noted on the ASALH website:
African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms, and police killings since our arrival upon these shores. These efforts have been to advocate for a dignified self-determined life in a just democratic society in the United States and beyond the United States political jurisdiction. The 1950s and 1970s in the United States was defined by actions such as sit-ins, boycotts, walk outs, strikes by Black people and white allies in the fight for justice against discrimination in all sectors of society from employment to education to housing. Black people have had to consistently push the United States to live up to its ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Systematic oppression has sought to negate much of the dreams of our griots, like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, and our freedom fighters, like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Septima Clark, and Fannie Lou Hamer fought to realize. Black people have sought ways to nurture and protect Black lives, and for autonomy of their physical and intellectual bodies through armed resistance, voluntary emigration, nonviolence, education, literature, sports, media, and legislation/politics. Black led institutions and affiliations have lobbied, litigated, legislated, protested, and achieved success.
And to get your month started check out these few facts about the annual celebration of Black History Month!!
Black History Month recognizes All African American Experiences!!
Check out this video of the man behind this annual celebration, Carter G. Woodson:
Black History Month became nationally recognized officially in 1976
The United States and Canada celebrate Black history in February, while the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands honor it during the month of October.
Before it was established as a month long celebration, Black History Month Began as Negro History Week!
Black Future Feminist 