For more than four centuries — from American chattel slavery to today — African Americans have had to toil with injustices. However, despite racial disparities and attacks, whether on a micro or macro scale, many have chosen joy as a means of combating systemic oppression.
With health and economic disparities, police violence, and environmental injustice, among other challenges, facing Black Americans, choosing joy is an act of resilience and revolution in itself.
Finding joy in simple moments is one way African Americans have worked to historically choose joy. Consider the sacred Negro spiritual “Shout for Joy,” which sings, “Early in the morning, shout for joy,” and “I feel like praying, shout for joy.”
Or what about Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s 2022 hit “Break My Soul,” which declares despite life’s trials such as hard work, sleepless nights and navigating relationships, “You won’t break my soul.”
Even when times are hard, nothing can steal the power of Black joy.
A scene of pure, unfiltered Black joy was on display on Friday, Feb. 16 in downtown, D.C., after a Woolly Mammoth Theatre Blackout performance was interrupted by a fire alarm. Blackout performances are when the entire audience is intentionally Black identifying, creating a safe space for Black audiences in theatre to experience and reflect on what’s happening on stage and in the world. This performance was part of the world-premiere run of “The Sensational Sea Mink-ettes,” by Vivian J.O. Barnes, which is about a fictional HBCU dance team working to get to homecoming.
As the fire alarm stopped the action and required the entire building to evacuate to the cold temperatures, people were surprised when the show’s cast and band took to the streets to perform for the now displaced audience.
In the middle of D Street NW, in downtown D.C., the band played Ginuwine’s “Pony” (1996) as the cast danced and the audience cheered, clapped and celebrated. Angry drivers beeped their horns for the massive crowd to cross the street, but the large group of Black artists and arts appreciators strutted across the road in a joyous manner, never missing a beat.
It was beautiful, bold, unapologetic Black joy at its finest. Nothing could stop the art and even a fire alarm couldn’t stop the show. But more importantly, even after the action stopped on stage, nothing could prevent the infectious nature of Black joy.
The beauty of Black joy is that it can’t be contained. Black joy spreads to those whose path it crosses. Soon after the theatergoers took to the streets, passersby began to gather to take in the scene.
As the nation and world navigate tough times and challenges, it is important to uplift Black joy as a means of combating the trials.
In small or major instances, choosing joy is a way to not let the haters get one down, and to remain positive despite obstacles in our personal lives and in the world.
