Black Boy Joy
What is Joy?
The condition of joy that I believe to be “Black Boy Joy” (yes capitalized) is about cultivating a belief of self and loving all parts of your life as one.
This must be nurtured without harming the freedoms of others and is based on a perspective of the minority experience rejecting systemic and cultural norms that seek to destroy their unique individuality.
Everything is a process, even joy.
Happiness doesn’t need to be paired with negative for the happiness to be genuine. Anyone who thinks they’re joy is more important and therefore puts others down to get it, is unfortunately misusing it as well.
Joy is complicated.
When I hear the term “Black Boy Joy” I have to start with defining some conditions of joy I believe, then breaking down the two preceding terms of “Black” and “Boy” — both have connotations and meanings. They recreate joy to a particular cultural and gender aspect that gives it life, but also helps speak to our singularity in the world as it relates to one another.
Joy
When I think of joy, I think of the sustained pleasure and happiness that is yours to experience. I also think that this joy is something no one can take, despite any popular beliefs. Finally, the state of happiness we are…
