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!!
- Black Joy: Resistance, Resilience and Reclamation ~Elaine Nichols (Smithsonian National Museum of African American History Culture)
- Celebrating Black Joy as an Alternative Form of Resistance and Reclaiming of Humanity ~Kim Pham (Voice of OC)
- Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts: On Intentional Expressions of Black Joy ~Robert Lee Brewer (Writer’s Digest)
- Black dreams and Black joy: Embracing our sacred spaces ~Niya McCray-Brown (Mental Health America)
So over these next few weeks and days, I hope that you are able to celebrate the wins, challenge the stereotypes, find fulfillment, and embrace joy!!
Day 1 begins on June 1st, so stay tuned each day for your daily dose of JOY!!
Black Future Feminist 