Joy As Resistance

and joy that my dignity demands

Dear Troublemakers,

I am on an ongoing and never-ending quest for more joy. I’ve written about this before, I’m writing from it more often here and here. I think there is so much joy to be had in the trouble making.

The following originally shared in February if it feels familiar :)

The poet Toi Derricotte revolutionized Black feminism with one line in a poem, “joy is an act of resistance.” With that one line, she gave Black women an opportunity to rethink the work of racial justice. Finally we were given permission not to just be mules for the work of racial justice- carrying a kicking and screaming country into a better future. We were given permission to also see our joy as giving a middle finger to white supremacy. And when we stop to think about this one beautiful sentence, it unlocks a world of truthfulness. Historically, America has both been completely uninterested in the joyfulness, the happiness of Black women and has actively worked to villianize our joy. Our dancing. Our ha…