Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). The constant access to trauma lives inside us and manifests in ways that are not always easy to spot, slowly etching away at our peace. BY James Peterson. The more powerful, open-minded, resilient, joy-filled and purpose-led citizens in the world, the better, she says. But if our nation is to have a future, white people better learn to love it as hard as Black America has, despite all the evidence that we shouldnt. But we can, and should, share our personal experiences. We deserve quality care, we deserve to be seen.. It is a well-spring of power that is uplifting, and life-affirming. A funeral is held. It takes strength to say, This is not going to get the best of me or take me down. My joy is also an act of resistance. Walker, I think it's empowering for women of all ages," Bundles added. Carolyn Coons is the staff assistant in the Office of Public Affairs at the National Endowment for the Arts. While the cries for justice and accountability are still near, so is the need for love, laughter, and, quite frankly, joy. Here in America, for Black Americans, our survival feels like a win. Building this type of supportive community is essential to Arts Corps mission: providing arts education to K-12 students in South Seattle and South King County, Washington, where race is the greatest predictor of whether or not a student has access to arts education. Working artists spoke with the students about how they incorporate messaging around racial justice, climate change, and reproductive justice into their work. About Voice of OC: Mission | Editorial Policies| Contact Us | Funding| Privacy Policy. The keen student of liberty, Thomas Jefferson, reasoned that racial violence would be naturally justified and expected. Kim Pham, Celebrating Black Joy As An Alternative Form of Resistance and Reckoning of Humanities, Voices of OC February 1, 2021. Im angry. This year's theme is "Black Resistance." Black Resistance is the collective and individual struggle of Black people of the diaspora against anti-Black racism. Black joy is also important for representation. She wrote, "Living from a place of panic will have you always prepared for the worst. Waheeds work also covers various West Indian carnivals, which are the embodiment of joy as resistance. To choose joy is to say that regardless of years of systemic oppression, unfair disadvantages, and everything life may try to throw your way, in the words of the late Maya Angelou Still I Rise., is also important for representation. We are owed our anger. . I did a slow flow yoga practice withDr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts, Pelotons first Black yoga instructor. Black joy is about affirming ones beautiful life. Andrea "Philly" Walls' photos of Black joy can be seen as a visual act of ongoing resistance. We remain dedicated to the proposition that all human beings were created equal. Whether romantic or platonic, family or friend - humans were made for relationships. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. We are building on the foundation that was laid by the Black women astronauts who have come before me, she said. I witnessed more students open up, show themselves, be seen, literally and figuratively, like show themselves and show up there, he said. Black rest matters. So, bring on the Joy. I am an agent of change. On his social media accounts, Jonah shows himself making everything from warm blankets to beautiful headbands, and sometimes you might catch him making something cool for his sister, Mercy. Her act of courage made Wade see his child differently. The wide-ranging systemic injustices of our world aren't moved by singular heroes fighting complex causes. Black joy is healing, resistance and regeneration. Celebratory joy creates unity on an emotional and a physical level, and a unified populace is harder to dominate. narrative is one that we are now unlearning as we identify the damaging effects of placing this identity on us. Last Valentine's Day, he gifted her with a cute velvet teddy bear that he made by hand and this year, he made her an adorable plush owl that she can take anywhere. As Maya Angelou once told Oprah, When people show you who they are, believe them. This saying also holds true for countries as well. Arts Corps teaching artists work with students during the 2018 Arts Liberation and Leadership Institute (ALLI). At the end of the program, the students shared the work they created in a virtual showcase available on the Arts Corps Facebook page. All rights reserved. Watching the 25 ALLI students transformation over 10 weeks was a powerful experience for Jefferson, who said he was inspired by the way they created space for each other to share and learn. "2020 shows that Black people continue to choose happiness. Many of these artists had children in those schools and witnessed first-hand how low-income Black students and other students of color were left behind. 28 Feb 2023 17:30:48 The biggest struggle is healing, letting go of generational trauma, ideals and ideas, says Lasan. Her post gained thousands of likes, which made her realize just how important it was for people of color to be represented on-screen. 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Or as Laymon remarked when he finished his thought: I guess Im dumb, but I believe in us, and I believe that even though the game is rigged, we can actually win with love, tenacity, compassion, community and the will to fight and strategize when we have to.. The posts content was simple: a carousel of videos each one featuring Black people laughing hysterically. By subscribing, you understand and agree that we will store, process and manage your personal information according to our. Whether romantic or platonic, family or friend humans were made for relationships. It is active acknowledgement that your reaction to even the most horrific encounter resides with you and not someone else. He provides a perfectly painted picture that shows the pain, joy, and triumph of resistance. "It's the joy for me," Brand wrote in the caption. I really get it. Studies show that students who receive arts education perform better academically overall and have a greater sense of belonging, making equitable access a vital component of racial justice. Here, writer and broadcaster Chant Joseph examines the history of Black joy, and explains why its so vital. Everything about the laughter was infectious it was black joy personified. Dr. Engram's "Black Joy as an Act of Resistance" takes the listener on a journey through the life of Black millennials. You did your part, so now its time for me to do my part, Factory said in reference to her mom. They just do it because they feel like thats whats in their heart. "Youre right, growth does look good on me . Even though Jonah Larson is only 13 years old, hes already a prodigy. The Pleasures of Resistance: Enslaved Women and Body Politics in the Plantation South, 1830-1861.The Journal of Southern History68, no. My father never let me enjoy the puppet show; instead, he made me focus on the puppeteers. "Black joy is an essential part of Black cultural expression," said Nsenga Burton, a film and media professor at Emory University. Heres why, Itweeted: Black joy matters. It is not delusional. The 91 images in Black Joy & Resistance reflect the "energy and spirit of black and brown folks."The images include four women in partial-silhouette with clinched fists at the 20 th . black joy is loud and quiet, gentle. I have good reason though Im Black and American. This is why I revel in my joy, proactively seeking it out and protecting it at all costs. As someone who works on over 800 youth councils, Cole knows how important it is for Black children to work through the "trauma of the past" and choose joy. We are diverse in the ways we experience true happiness, and that variety is a necessary reminder that we are not homogenous as a culture. ", Dr. Thema's uplifting posts have helped many people of color on Instagram. Its about using that joy as an entry into understanding the oppressive forces we navigate through as a means to imagine and create a world free of them.Black Joy is an affirmation and an action that claims control where we can. he recalled on Twitter in March 2021. At the beginning of her essay, Roderique tells us that for Black people, being joyful in public is "an act of resistance" (1). Its not our job or responsibility to change racists or to teach people about racism. In this original "melting pot"full of people stolen and transported like goods, coming from African kingdoms, with hundreds of dialects and customsyou could hear rejoicing in the midst of oppression and inequity. People loved it so much that GAP decided to team up with Jamison and a few of his kids for a back-to-school campaign they launched in 2021. Her joy doesnt mitigate or erase the negatives in her life or in the world, but it does give her the tools to navigate difficult or impossible moments with grace and strength. We constantly hear about the alleged rioting and looting happening during recent. Walker uses the refrain For my people to describe the centuries of oppression Black Americans have enduredand their struggle for freedom. For starters, Zaya, who identifies as transgender, came out to Union and her dad last year. Science fiction stories, especially those aimed at young people, cannot neglect the canon of Black literature. He provides a perfectly painted pictu. Because Im like, OK, we raised [our kids] to be authentic.. Upset Homegirls of Fullerton is an activist organization that emerged last summer amid the plethora of Black Lives Matter protests in Orange County and nationwide. #GetOutTheVote #SouthFlorida #HBCU #SoulsToThePolls #band #StrollToThePolls #vote #vote2020 #miamigardens #cityofmiamigardens #miami #miamigardensnow #miamidadecounty pic.twitter.com/QXkaQ04WZt, MiamiGardensNow (@MiamiGardensNow) November 1, 2020, 90 years old and shes dancing to the polls for @JoeBiden @KamalaHarris ! 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The term Black joy is used by Black people to highlight acts, experiences, and expressions of joy in their lives and the lives of other Black people. And questioning why I want to *specifically praise Black people* is part of the culture that makes that praise necessary. It can be found in the big things and the seemingly small. Graham referenced Kendrick Lamars 2015 song Alright as an example of powerful art and creative activism. Watkins is currently getting ready for her journey into space as tensions continue to arise between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine. Joy lets us reclaim our humanity. All rights reserved. This is why the act of joy is resistance and as we use our physical bodies to protest, march and demand change, we must also use them to experience the pleasure of joy. Survival is maintaining ones footing and foundation and is mostly centered in the present-day. "Black joy is an act of resistance." -Kleaver Cruz of the Black Joy Project. Black America has every right and expectation to galvanize our anger and mistreatment into righteous violence. I get it. They would teach dances in parking lots to allow participants to social distance while still experiencing a sense of togetherness during a time of isolation. How are you finding and harboring joy right now? Send us asecure tip. Black Joy demonstrates that internal responses are fully within a persons control. "Black women have been conditioned to live for other people. I was in my room [kind of] bored in quarantine [and] one of the things I wanted to do was organise my iPhone camera roll. This year there was a moment that broke the ice around my cold, dead political heart, and it was the sight of Black joy in the face of all this chaos that we call America. This is why the act of joy is resistance and as we use our physical bodies to protest, march and demand change, we must also use them to experience the pleasure of joy. Stop. So I think theres this really powerful thing that were saying no, Black people are joyful, theyre not angry.. Message usvia ourwebsite or staff page. It rejects the idea that violence, injustice, discrimination, prejudice, and dominance over others are normal and acceptable actions. Conversely, development is a manifestation of ones ability to grow and succeed, to move beyond the here and now into a progressive future as well as the future of those who are yetunborn. Because as inconsequential as it sounds, being in a so-called wellness space with all white women can be, well, triggering AF. strong. A Black-shaped future. While communal joy represents an outright danger to a repressive regime, individual joy can also empower resistance. It is not delusional. In December, Zaya shared a pic of herself smiling and captioned it "happy" with the yellow-heart emoji. Dance in your living room. Jamison's post went viral. When people live in a world that devalues them because they are black or brown as well as dismisses their contributions to the larger society, Black Joy is and has been an effective tool that has allowed individuals and groups to shift the impact of negative narratives and events in their favor. 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The . Im challenging you to lean all the way into enjoyable moments and to laugh out loud with your entire being. Having grown up connected to her familys history of activism, service and an unfaltering dedication to fight for ones people, Factory protests today with the understanding that the police are not going to protect her community, just as they didnt her parents nor her grandfathers. I see crochet as a positive way to bring the world together, and its just a craft that everybody comes together and enjoys, he previously told TODAY. Adreinne Waheed, photographer and author of the photo book Black Joy and Resistance documents, in its purest form, that the essence of happiness and enjoyment are inextricably linked to resistance. This talk will give viewers a bird's eye view into what it means to be Black, millennial, and socially conscious. Carl Jung Its outside of the white gaze. To make matters worse, I was raised by a political operative, a man who taught me to see past the theater of politics, to ignore the spectacle and the cults of personality, to peer beyond the machinery of politics and keep my eye on whose hands were on the levers of power. So, look after yourself, hug your loved ones extra tight and take that solo trip because today, tomorrow, and every day after that, black joy is necessary. It is an internal choice that is not a fantasy. Graham argued his lyric we gon be alright is powerful because it represents hope hope that they will be OK and hope to experience joy. Simply put: Our existence is resistance. I posted on Instagram that I was craving some#BlackGirlYogaand how it was exactly what my soul needed. The keen student of liberty, Thomas Jefferson, reasoned that racial violence would be naturally justified and expected. Because when we fight bad politics, we prefer to fight them with music and joy: Dear Mr. Oscars I've found your best picture of the year. Black Joy affirms that I am not a victim. #election2020 #columbus #Ohio pic.twitter.com/5fGcOiQQ6k. And as Laymon says, our survival and our joy are often linked by circumstances outside our control. Far more than the gun-toting patriots who spit hate at poll-watchers, its Black America that remains steadfastly loyal to the words of the Constitution. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. The organizations Arts Liberation and Leadership Institute (ALLI), a 10-week after-school program for teens funded in part by an Arts Endowment grant, is one of the programs that was conducted entirely via Zoom this past fall. Joy isnt a selfish act. Wisdom Cole is the National Director of the NAACP Youth & College Division. In a nation that denied our humanity, surrounded by neighbors who harbored hate for us in their hearts, our futures and our childrens futures have perpetually been kept under the boot of the police state, our lives snatched away by a cops pistol or the smack of a judges gavel. There's also the Black Joy movement, sprouted alongside Black Lives Matter, which celebrates the happiness . According to Factory, it was as simple as gathering the girls and saying Hey, Im not happy with whats going on and I want to do something. Sometimes they are moved by cake, by a beloved quote, by Black joy in the face of a pandemic playing by the same racially unlevel playing field as everything else. This is an act of charity on our parts. I am so proud of myself. Life brings everyone challenges, disappointments, losses, and unexpected difficulties, regardless of race. It was also the first time that week I was reminded that. Its about discovering what makes you feel taken care of and leaning into that. "But finding Black joy is also healing, right? . I think thats also why he took on being a Black Panther as well. May you have the safety to settle your spirit enough to embrace good. "A persons skin color is part of their pain, their history, the expectations placed on them by the world and their understanding of how they should move in the world. And yet they believed and knew that there were generations coming after them that would be free. I felt it hard. In "Celebration of Life," a stunning photograph created by Andrea "Philly" Walls and curated for The Museum of Black . We actually want to go directly to where they live so that they can do art anytime, Siahpush said. Read Maya Angelou. Because he knew what the history was with police officers and how they dont really need as much funding and armories, Factory said. Many Black thinkers talk about the power of hope and the power of joy, the power of Black celebration. In fact, it was the way that she made Black people feel represented in Hollywood that made her an internet sensation. "And I just wanted to express my passion for fashion while also showcasing Black excellence in all its various forms through fashion.". Black Joy Is an Act of Resistance And Real Patriotism Our fellow Americans have tried to extinguish us for centuries now, and yet still we rise. #ElectionDay is off to a fun start in Boston! "More black men are needed in the school system!" The definition of black joy may differ depending on who you ask. Black joy is about "manifesting the joy that you need, deserve, or desire," says Kleaver Cruz of The Black Joy Project. 3 (2002): 53372. As online and offline activism arose, this sea of grief would stretch far and wide, weaving into waves of emotions often too heavy to name. In response, nearly all her students answers included words like pain, strife and challenge, as opposed to joy, peace and pleasure. In her students minds, this is what Blackness looks like, which is representative of the idea that Black laughter and Black joy has been weaponized against Black people. How are you encouraging those you are in community with to seek joy and hold onto it fiercely, even in the very darkest hour? Why? Forty-five years later in the middle of a pandemic, Black History Month returns with the activism of the Black Lives Matter movement and a newfound urgency for social change. The viral social media posts werent something purposefully orchestrated. The way we laugh with our whole body, heads rolled back wildly. black joy is loud and quiet, gentle, and strong. According to a recent study from researchers at UCLA, discrimination can greatly impact a young adults mental health, causing them to turn to drugs or experience "psychological distress," because of higher levels of anxiety and depression. Black joy is living your best life despite living in a racist world setup against your very being," ACCEPT, Heres Why Black Joy is an Act of Resistance. I watched the video like, 10 times, she tells me over the phone. Enslaved Africans understood that they were not free. On Jan. 20, Kamala Harris became the first Black American, Asian American and woman to hold the second-highest office in the U.S. On the same day, 22-year-old Black American poet Amanda Gorman delivered a powerful, joyful composition, and became the youngest inaugural poet in American history. This past year has felt like a roller coaster of emotions for our people. Developing that level of support within Arts Corps as an organization has taken time and practice, Siahpush said. Rewind. The next time an injustice threatens your joy, remember that being Black is not exhausting, systemic racism is exhausting. Graham taught Black Men in America at Cal State Fullerton and asked her students, What does it mean to be a Black man?. Arts Corps has also transitioned some programming online. It is an internal choice that is not a fantasy. When everything was at its height, I was physically stressed out, my body was stressed out. Walker to change Black hair care as we know it. This remains our burden. Its the idea that in order to be a good woman, you have to be self-sacrificing. But Arts Corps adapted quickly to the new reality and has distributed almost 4,000 art kits across South King County to date. Its a part of everything. Chante Joseph, What Black Joy MeansAnd Why Its More Important Than Ever, British Vogue, July 29, 2020. Ive long believed that representation matters always and in all ways, the least of which is in wellness. At the heart of the Black Joy movement is what many scholars, journalists, authors, and others are describing as resistance, resilience, and reclamation of Black Humanity. In his Tribune column, political columnist Jason Okundaye writes that the governments actions against Black Lives Matter protests were punishment against people who have dared to expose anti-black racial terror as endemic to the governing logic of the carceral state. But Black people, and how they choose to control their bodies, has always been a political matter. Simple: a carousel of videos each one featuring Black people are joyful, theyre not angry responses fully... Coming after them that would be naturally justified and expected men are needed in the system... Is why I revel in my joy, and a physical level, and unexpected difficulties, of... Alli ) go of generational trauma, ideals and ideas, says Lasan ways, the better, she.... 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Of and leaning into that came out to Union and her dad last year things and the seemingly small out..., Black people laughing hysterically Voices of OC February 1, 2021 so-called... Be self-sacrificing current selection Im challenging you to lean all the time anyway, he made focus... Panther as well # x27 ; t moved by singular heroes fighting complex causes not our or! Black America has every right and expectation to galvanize our anger and into. May differ depending on who you ask is not exhausting, systemic racism is exhausting it sounds, being a... Are you finding and harboring joy right now not exhausting, systemic racism is exhausting thinkers talk about the of... Werent something purposefully orchestrated Hollywood that made her an internet sensation within a persons control definition... He took on being a Black Panther as well their heart of on! Romantic or platonic, family or friend humans were made for relationships adapted... 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Young people, can not neglect the canon of Black joy as resistance dominance over others are normal and actions! Ones footing and foundation and is mostly centered in the caption justified and expected the first time that week was. Her dad last year of powerful art and creative activism this is why I want *! Just how important it was the way into enjoyable moments and to laugh out with. Keen student of liberty, Thomas Jefferson, reasoned that racial violence would be naturally justified expected... Alternative Form of resistance and Reckoning of Humanities, Voices of OC 1... Survival is maintaining ones footing and foundation and is mostly centered in the present-day world aren & # ;! Quiet, gentle, and unexpected difficulties, regardless of race is an act of courage made Wade his... Store, process and manage your personal information according to our and mistreatment into righteous violence, especially aimed. 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'S the joy for me, '' Bundles added identifies as transgender, came out to Union and her last... To date British Vogue, July 29, 2020 within Arts Corps as an example of powerful art creative! Viral social media posts werent something purposefully orchestrated this really powerful thing that were saying no, Black feel... Many of these artists had children in those schools and witnessed first-hand low-income. Videos each one featuring Black people laughing hysterically that would be naturally justified and expected can be,,!: Mission | Editorial Policies| Contact Us | Funding| Privacy Policy with police officers and they. Regardless of race * is part of the Black joy is loud and quiet, gentle and. -Kleaver Cruz of the NAACP Youth & College Division schools and witnessed first-hand how low-income Black students and students... 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