Being in that room, surrounded by 40 other Black and brown women, was an act of both revolution and resistanceand was also an act of joy and love. Im hurt. To see thatthe classroom can have that support and that community building is really, really critical.. 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. Jessica Watkins, the first Black woman set to be a part of an International Space Station crew, displays Black joy as she poses for a picture in front of a plane. But fuck that. The beauty of black joy is that there is no one-size-fits-all rule. Its outside of the white gaze. 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. . We are owed our anger. To be defiant in pursuit of liberation. The biggest struggle is healing, letting go of generational trauma, ideals and ideas, says Lasan. Carolyn Coons is the staff assistant in the Office of Public Affairs at the National Endowment for the Arts. The hashtag #blackboyjoy is one of many platforms where we see this in action. National Museum of African American History & Culture, Celebrating Black Joy as an Alternative Form of Resistance and Reclaiming of Humanity (voiceofoc.org), Black Joy: Resistance, Resilience and Reclamation. They tell us youre too loud or youre too bright. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty had her boogie on today. But that even in the darkest times in a white supremist society, Black people still find a way to laugh and love. Factory inherited her passion for justice from her parents, both of whom were involved in protests for their communities. When everything was at its height, I was physically stressed out, my body was stressed out. I get it. In 1992, Dr. Mae C. Jemison made history when she boarded the Endeavour and became the first Black woman in space. Through workshops, one-on-one sessions and speaking engagements, Lasan propels clients through monthly accountability and wellness challenges, creating personalized roadmaps for motivation. I truly believe laughter is medicine for the soul. "You can now find me and my students of @SCSK12Unified on a billboard on Times Square in New York City! He said, "Black joy is about affirming one's beautiful life. He provides a perfectly painted pictu. The hashtag #blackboyjoy is one of many platforms where we see this in action. This also, though, powers our collective belief in the future in our future. Black joy is pride. Something that gives me hope is the solidarity of marginalized communities and the fact that young people understand that they can make change without permission. She emphasized that while Black joy is resistance, it is not the full picture. 3 (2002): 53372. Cruz notes that Black joy is a type of "internally driven . We constantly hear about the alleged rioting and looting happening during recent. And like an old cassette tape, the world presses stop, rewind, and play. How are you encouraging those you are in community with to seek joy and hold onto it fiercely, even in the very darkest hour? It is not escapism or a way of avoiding reality. Because Im like, OK, we raised [our kids] to be authentic.. After graduating during the Great Recession, Lasan struggled to find a job at first, before working at a marketing agency and in retail. The way we laugh with our whole body, heads rolled back wildly. And when we vote, we have no choice but to dance: Gotta say the long line at the Franklin County Vote Center had a party feel to it at times with all of the entertainment there. "But finding Black joy is also healing, right? Sage's post quickly went viral with the caption: Our rage is undeniably justified however our joy is also necessary.". The viral social media posts werent something purposefully orchestrated. Making art can feel good, and joy is an act of resistance.. Ever since we were brought to the US and enslaved, our lives have been subjugated and our freedoms have been regulated, she explains. As a socially aware and vocal 23-year-old Black woman, my social feed is constantly inundated with inhumane acts of violence towards Black people and disregard for Black life. It is an internal choice that is not a fantasy. They also received a $350 stipend from Arts Corps. Black America has every right and expectation to galvanize our anger and mistreatment into righteous violence. Last weekend, instead of joining the thousands of people protesting in Chicago, I decided to rest. ", Another said, "Thanks for reminding us that we too can have compassion for ourselves. And I cannot allow that anger and pain to consume me. Rewind. ALLI students were challenged to imagine the possibilities of a new, more just society through their art. Im challenging you to lean all the way into enjoyable moments and to laugh out loud with your entire being. Lots of voters were dancing in line. There was, however, no teasing, taunting, or laughter. Joy allows us to become selfless in a way that transforms the world. I owe it to myself, my loved ones, and generations to come. Under a grey-ish June 2020 London sky, dressed in black, masked up and with pickets in hand, a majority Black group of protesters uniformly performed the Electric Slide to Cameos Candy. Like other communities, Black folks, of course, feel tremendous pain, outrage, sorrow and depression, and we struggle with our mental health. Black people are able and allowed to find happiness and comfort despite their tribulations. When I look at Zaya, I get hope, he told People in April 2021. 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. The keen student of liberty, Thomas Jefferson, reasoned that racial violence would be naturally justified and expected. What, according to Roderique, is Black joy, and why do we rarely "see it in mainstream media and other spaces" (2)? Over the years Arts Corps has recognized that the same structures that prevent low-income students of color from receiving an arts education also disadvantage teaching artists of color, so the organization prioritizes hiring teaching artists who reflect the communities in which they work in order to combat systemic racism and strengthen community bonds. Because as inconsequential as it sounds, being in a so-called wellness space with all white women can be, well, triggering AF. Making sure that we are able to step into our power.". We remain dedicated to the proposition that all human beings were created equal. Part of my mission is to help people understand the need for joy, and the ways to access joy in hard times, she says. Like as Black people, we have a lot of trauma from the past. Jefferson said incorporating art in organizing is important. Its about discovering what makes you feel taken care of and leaning into that. If the lockdown period has shown us anything, its to treasure these moments, but similarly, happiness can also be found in solitude. I feel like Ive been figuring out ways in which I can participate and add value to the movement in a prolonged way, she tells me over Zoom, from her bedroom in Georgia. 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. To pay homage to her ancestor, Bundles teamed up with Cara Sabin CEO of Sundial Brands, the parent company of MADAM by Madam C.J. To be Black and joyful despite and against all the odds is an act of resistance. We can actively trace the spatial and temporal control of Black expression from slavery and colonialism through to today. So when people continue to shine and live fully, it is resistance in the context of our white supremacist world.. By subscribing, you understand and agree that we will store, process and manage your personal information according to our. I cant let myself stay in the position of victimhood, or believe that I am in any way, shape or form a victim to my circumstances. This past year has felt like a roller coaster of emotions for our people. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. "I felt physical stress. Still, the numerous ways Black women experience joy and celebration are often overlooked in higher education. The video resonated globally. Her post gained thousands of likes, which made her realize just how important it was for people of color to be represented on-screen. And questioning why I want to *specifically praise Black people* is part of the culture that makes that praise necessary. For me, it is the freedom to lean all the way into the things that make us come alive. Events such as Carnival, Robinsons uplifting feed and those London protesters prove that joy and healing are legitimate and effective forms of protesting and resisting. To cope, Sage began searching for the funniest videos she could find of Black people laughing and then she shared her favorites on Instagram. If that's not Black joy, then I don't know what is. But no matter how famous Jamison gets, he says that he'll still greet his kids with a "dope" handshake every chance he gets. Why? Black joy is about "manifesting the joy that you need, deserve, or desire," says Kleaver Cruz of The Black Joy Project. 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Cruz notes that Black joy is a type of "internally driven" happiness that can happen when someone consciously chooses pleasure as a way to combat the traumas of racism. Have you ever considered how powerful it is to see positive images of Black people living their best lives and basking in their happiness? And at some point, we are owed our joy.. She felt desperately unfulfilled, even lost, until she went into business for herself. This is an act of charity on our parts. From Black men traveling to young Black boys dancing, with every post, we are reminded that our joy is possible, and it matters. From Black men traveling to young Black boys dancing, with every post, we are reminded that, This is especially important when we consider how previous generations and trauma can often necessitate that we showcase strength at all times and take care of others first. Your official excuse to add "OOD" (ahem, out of doors) to your cal. This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxDallasCollege, an independent event. Malone brings up a similar idea when she said that its just as important to challenge white supremacy as it is to practice self-love, which leads to joy. Walker. It's the idea that in order to be a good woman, you have to be self-sacrificing. Watkins is currently getting ready for her journey into space as tensions continue to arise between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine. It was a shift that sent tremors around the world. Explain what she means by this. Last year as the COVID-19 pandemic raged and in the wake of Breonna Taylors death and George Floyds murder Lasan felt crushed. When I started to practice this my healing came thru. We know the ritual all too well. Where society has told Black people to be quiet, or that were too loud, revelling in joy is an act of resistance. Because he knew what the history was with police officers and how they dont really need as much funding and armories, Factory said. All rights reserved. With each snapshot, we challenge the negative stereotypes the world tries to perpetuate, and we take back our power, by painting our own narrative. I am an agent of change. 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. While the cries for justice and accountability are still near, so is the need for love, laughter, and, quite frankly, joy. TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." Even though Jonah Larson is only 13 years old, hes already a prodigy. He provides a perfectly painted picture that shows the pain, joy, and triumph of resistance. Some people dont go out and start activism to be influencers. Dr. Engram's "Black Joy as an Act of Resistance" takes the listener on a journey through the life of Black millennials. But amongst the hard-to-define feelings, there was one sentiment the collective community could agree on: We are tired. This is an act of charity on our parts. In December, Zaya shared a pic of herself smiling and captioned it "happy" with the yellow-heart emoji. "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. That kind of empowering Black Joy gave them the will to hold on and press forward, no matter what situations confronted them. Arts Corps has also transitioned some programming online. Kleaver Cruz, founder of The Black Joy Project, a digital and real-world movement said that, Black Joy is not dismissing or creating an alternate black narrative that ignores the realities of our collective pain; rather, it is about holding the pain and injusticein tension with the joy we experience. She can be reached at kimhphm@gmail.com. The reason that joy and resistance pair so well is because as Black folks, we have been resisting all our lives. Play. This is especially important when we consider how previous generations and trauma can often necessitate that we showcase strength at all times and take care of others first. Joyann Jeffrey. However, those things are attached to our joy, our very being, and it is how we exist as full humans.. Even when you sneeze its embarrassing, Siahpush, acting executive director of Arts Corps, said when recounting the incident. For Black folks, joy and resistance arent really that separate, Waheed tells me over Zoom. In addition to their pathways, students were asked to use creative writing to look internally and tell their own stories. We literally have the ability to create what does not yet exist that we need," he said. I realised that people need to see this; my timeline needs this right now.. And so why is black joy so important especially in the world we navigate today? Walker uses the refrain For my people to describe the centuries of oppression Black Americans have enduredand their struggle for freedom. This talk will give viewers a birds eye view into what it means to be Black, millennial, and socially conscious. By your continued use of this site you accept such use.For more information see our policy. 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. 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. #election2020 #columbus #Ohio pic.twitter.com/5fGcOiQQ6k. Review Quotes It's the antidote, the balm, to the daily . Photoby Amy Pion. Arts Corps teaching artists work with students during the 2018 Arts Liberation and Leadership Institute (ALLI). This is how we bring #JoyToThePolls in Southwest Philly! 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. Celebratory joy creates unity on an emotional and a physical level, and a unified populace is harder to dominate. But Arts Corps adapted quickly to the new reality and has distributed almost 4,000 art kits across South King County to date. We are forever grateful to represent the 901.". She wanted me to be happy if I simply survived. Heres why, Itweeted: Black joy matters. The foundation in maximizing the fullest potential of all students is through love and human interaction.". It takes practice. It is real. A Black-shaped future. Sahaj Kohli, founder of Brown Girl Therapy, previously told TODAY how important it is for children of immigrants to get therapy. The biggest struggle is healing, letting go of generational trauma, ideals and ideas," says Lasan. Whether romantic or platonic, family or friend humans were made for relationships. Staff go to school, low-income housing, and free meal sites to give out the kits, removing as many barriers to access as possible. All of these lead to social changeand social justice. Photo by AmyPion. I started finding these videos of Black people laughing and I just started cracking up. 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. [Carnival] came out of something so tragic, after Kelso Cochrane, an aspiring lawyer, was murdered in a racist attack on the streets, she tells me over Zoom about the existence of Notting Hill Carnival as a joyful form of resistance. I can believe that I can be full of joy, and happy, and still be able to fight against my oppressors, Fagbamila said. 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.. Its one of the reasons I was attracted toStarshine & Clay, a yoga retreat for women of color, where I met Dr. Roberts two years ago. In the notion of choosing it actively and consciously, it then becomes something that you can feel isnt just happening to people. He added: It honestly feels like an ancestral responsibility.. The . Stop. Black joy is shining bright. Theres so many different ways that Black joy can be spread, Odd said. The Pleasures of Resistance: Enslaved Women and Body Politics in the Plantation South, 1830-1861.The Journal of Southern History68, no. Science fiction stories, especially those aimed at young people, cannot neglect the canon of Black literature. This remains our burden. 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. Research shows that joy has a direct impact on our health emotionally, socially, and even physically. Get a daily email featuring the latest talk, plus a quick mix of trending content. It is not delusional. They can't accompany you to the place you want to go. Its about honoring our humanity, in the fullness of what it means to be alive and to be human, Graham said. 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. 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