White supremacy would love it if we were depressed and struggling all the time. But joy is embedded in our DNA! From the way we move to the sound of our laughter, it’s as though we were made to enjoy happiness, even during hard times.
So shouldn’t we celebrate moments of Black joy a lot more? Here’s how.
Social media can be full of trauma and pain – but also joy. Hashtags like #BlackJoy celebrate our wins and how we take care of each other, and projects like the Black Joy Project on Instagram are building a movement of celebrating our happiness as much as we discuss our pain.
Marsai Martin is an example of prioritizing Black joy. Though she’s still a teenager, she is the youngest executive producer in history. And what’s more? She’s pledged to only take on projects that celebrate our strength and beauty as a people.
There’s even an actual Museum of Black Joy! This museum is dedicated to images, sounds, and collages of Black history, art, music, and pure love.
The narrative around the historical roots of Blackness is one of struggle, pain, and depression. So anytime we celebrate our joy, it is truly an act of resistance. Our moments of joy are truly those that should be celebrated and, above all, normalized!