We are hosting the “Black Joy on the Slopes” community gathering in Whistler, BC, Canada for the third year. We asked the community what Black Joy means to them. As a start of Black History/Futures Month, we wanted to share a selection of quotes that will fill our hearts with joy for the rest of the year.
‘It means black people coming together, having a good time. It means finding community.’ – Kristel
‘To me, Black Joy means celebrating our culture, resilience, and achievements unapologetically. It’s finding happiness in community, self-expression, and moments of peace and pride, even in the face of challenges.’ – Merhawit
‘Black joy is everything to me. Now more than ever we need to foster and center Black joy and make sure that we resist oppression by being in community. Caring for one another and supporting each other to have access to spaces of healing and joy and freedom. Black joy is our birthright. ‘ – Nadine
‘Exactly that!! Blacks enjoying what God has given- nature. Black Joy means Ubuntu where I’m from which is Zulu for “to be human to others” ‘ – Liako
‘For me, it means being able to embrace my identity. As a mixed-race woman who grew up in Japan, I often felt disconnected with African side of my identity. That is why I decided to take African studies class at my university this year to learn more about Africa and reflect on my roots. It has been a fantastic experience for me to build more solid identity as African woman.’ – Ai
‘Black joy to me means promoting and finding spaces that celebrates being Black and being in community. To me it also means a sense of resilience and celebration in the face of any sort hardships or systematic barriers that might hinder or suppress Black joy. ‘ – Rebecca
‘Seeing people like you have positive experiences is powerful! Black joy for our community is soul enriching and doesn’t happen often enough ‘ – Thomas
‘Black Joy to me is supporting and uplifting each other through community. Leaning on each other and taking care of each other despite life’s dips. Having space to be authentically yourself.’ – Tagwa
‘It means peace, serenity, and community. Being in a dominant non-Black environment where I’m often reminded of and defined (societally) by Blackness is endless. I want my joy to be perceived simply as Joy. We live in a world where Black Joy is described because we are not provided to space to just Be. I want to Be.’ – Bashaier
‘Big question! To me, at least in part, it means critical linkages to a genealogy of subversive, transformative and expansive joy-finding/seeking/making & to community spirit which is restorative and nourishing. ‘ – Asmaa
‘Black peoples ability. To find happiness in our community ‘ – Sarah
‘Black Joy to me means taking up space, and being able to express ourselves unabashedly. To be in a place where our volume, our vernacular, our expressions can be unchecked and be celebrated. ‘ – Ibrahim
‘I think Black joy to me means to be our unapologetic selves. Personally, I’ve had many days feeling like an imposter, like I don’t belong, as I have gone through school, and now that I have moved forward in my career. But I’ve met some really good successful people and learned that there’s no reason to feel this way. My mentors have always been unapologetically themselves, by embracing their Black roots, advocating for the success of our community, and have stepped up to essentially guide me to the place I am today. When I see the Black community celebrating each other, not shying away from our identity, tackling systemic racism and being advocates, that gives me felling of comfort and joy.’ – Mohamed
‘Black joy is when we feel safe to be so authentically ourselves that we radiate happiness, we celebrate and inspire each other’ – Jean Fabrice
‘Black joy, to me, is about breaking generational curses, redefining possibilities, and reclaiming what was once denied to us. It’s celebrating resilience, creativity, and the richness of our culture, thriving in community, and finding pride in rewriting our narratives. It’s in the everyday moments of laughter, connection, and living unapologetically, choosing light and hope as an act of resistance and affirmation.’ – Muna
‘Black joy is a representation of resilience and fun that also serves as a form of resistance to the systems and attitudes that try to extinguish our happiness and enjoyment.’ – Sofia
‘Being able to be unapologetically us at all times’ – Tevin
‘Belonging!’ – Luana
‘Black joy is nourishment, healing, and love. It is a right and a necessity.’ – Balqees
‘Being able to be my true self without judgement and seeing other people who look like me enjoy themselves. ‘ – Eyma
‘Black Joy means hearing loud laughter in spaces that are usually stiff and stuffy. It’s getting the music playing and being able to move and dance. To me, it means having a sense of solidarity and kinship among people that I might not necessarily know – being comfortable in my own skin and feeling like I don’t have to hold myself back in order to feel accepted. Black Joy is a term I hear a lot these days, and when I think about what it means to me, it really just feels like a buzzword/term to describe trying to live my life as authentically as possible. Authenticity that includes physical and psychological safety, community connection, and A LOT of fun. ‘ – Ibironke
‘Last year when I skied with colour the trails I realized it was the first time I had ever skied with Black people I wasn’t related to. That felt like Black joy to me’ – Emma
‘Good vibes with kindred Spirits ‘ – Munyaradzi
‘Black people thriving visibly and unapologetically ‘ – Roberta
‘Having the freedom to express yourself and be who you are without fear of judgement! Getting to celebrate all of the parts of who you are while in community! ‘ – Shanique
“‘(This is a long answer, so I apologize in advance.) There’s a video that was taken in Washington D.C. on the night of March 13th, 2021, the anniversary of the murder of Breonna Taylor. The video shows this vast crowd of masked and mostly Black protestors convened in memory of Taylor, holding a vigil for her. In the video, everyone is gathered in the deep twilight of the night and they’re dancing before Taylor’s picture, which is illuminated by the tender yellow glow of candlelight. There are flowers strewn everywhere, a set of speakers blasting Mary J. Bilge’s “Everything”, bass reverberating throughout the space. Someone picks up a trombone and starts playing it to “”Everything””, the sound of it accompaning the rise and fall of the protestor’s, the mourner’s voices as they sing along, dance along, nod along, sway, bawl, smile, shuffle, bounce, hug, cry. They were moved by, and moved to, what Taylor loved.
I think when I think of Black joy, as much as it is moments of laughing with friends, making jokes, sharing looks over a meal—when I think of Black joy, I’m also thinking of moments like these, where the surround of anti-Blackness and mourning does not and will not stop us from being moved by and moving to love and connection. A lot of those people gathered in D.C. were strangers that happened to live in the same city. But the thing that made them connect was finding something someone else loved and sharing in that. That joy didn’t erase or cure the rage or grief, to be sure. But it was a ecstasy of life and living. It was the blossoming of collective force. And that’s Black joy.’ – Kimberly”
‘Doing what you enjoy regardless of the stereotypes of what Black people should enjoy. ‘ – Grace
‘Black Joy, to me, is about celebration of our identity, culture, and achievements. It also means community, connection, and shared experiences that remind us of our beauty, strength, and potential.’ – Ayomide Moibi
‘Black Joy to me is a celebration of joint identity. It’s the moment where you can smile on shared experiences as well as moments where you can be at complete ease with peers from similar communities and upbringings.’ – Abiola
‘ It’s a joy that exists in pain and suffering. It’s a joy that uplifts us and the community.’ – Patrick
‘To me, Black Joy is a celebration of resilience, culture, and community. It’s finding moments of happiness, pride, and connection in the face of adversity and reclaiming spaces that historically excluded us. Black Joy is about honoring our heritage, sharing our stories, and creating spaces where we can thrive unapologetically. It’s an act of resistance and empowerment, reminding us of the beauty and strength in our identity while inspiring others to embrace their own.’ – James
“‘To me, Black joy is a celebration of resilience, culture, and community
It’s about unapologetically embracing who I am, lifting each other up, and creating safe space where we can thrive, feel seen, and just be ourselves. I witness black joy in our laughter, our shared stories, our successes, and even in the small moments of rest and peace. I believ It’s the ability to find happiness despite challenges, to show up for each other, and to celebrate the beauty of our individuality and collective strength. Black joy is resistance, healing, and love all at once, and it reminds me of the power and beauty of our community’ – Terrence
‘Being able to be my self authentically ‘ – Christopher
‘feeling included and having people with people who have similar experiences’ – Tsitsi
‘Supporting my own ‘ – Eunice
‘Subverting expectations and redefining ourselves based on what we value ‘ – Alecia
‘Being assured that I, my family and the wider Black community (here in the diaspora and back home) can accomplish way more than we dare to dream despite the obstacles that arise from racial and gender injustices. It’s a feeling similar to that of “overcoming”.’ – Takudzwa
‘Black joy, to me, is the powerful, poignant, and purposeful expression of familial love, cultural pride, and historical resilience. It’s the authentic expression of what it means to be truly happy as a black individual, whoever you are, however you identify, wherever you live, whomever you love, and whatever your passions and giftings. It’s about black communities rooted in both intergenerational traumas and monumental victories, coming together to foster deep connections, to celebrate our unique strength and beauty, and to rise above societal adversity and hardship, together. Black joy is bold, vibrant, unapologetic, radical, and free. ‘ – Arlanna
‘It means finding ways to celebrate survival even when things feel grim and dark, and not only to survive but thrive ‘ – Ziona
‘Happiness within & around you.’ – Blessing
‘Community, unapologetic curiosity, and a sense of feeling that we too can be entitled to explore without restrictions placed on us by society. ‘ – Collins
‘Black Joy means so many things to me. It’s a form of resistance to me, perseverance. Its healing, it’s remembering and imagining and being all at the same time. I am not feeling well today, so I can’t dive too deep into it. Hope that’s enough for now.’ – Akeyo
‘Black joy means having access to opportunities, experiences and events, that build community. ‘ – Amina
‘Black joy is finding happiness within self and others. It is joy in a safe and healing place. A celebration of black culture and identity.’ – Thembinkosi
‘Black joy means everything to me!!! When I’m connecting, adventuring, and belly laughing with my black kin, I feel at home. Looking to foster more of that. ‘ – Nikaiya-Rae
‘To me, Black joy means inspiring the next wave of little black kids to take up space and be ANYTHING they want to be. To be loud, confident, joyful, without fear.’ – Eman
‘To me, Black Joy means celebrating the Black identity’s beauty, strength, and resilience. It is about observing and cultivating moments of joy despite daily challenges. It is also recognizing and celebrating the excellence we bring to the world. One of the things I really enjoy about being Black is no matter where we are, we will create space for ourselves and build community. We refuse to be confined and will continuously defy negative stereotypes or misconceptions. I feel safe knowing that I am surrounded and supported by this community.’ – Aisha
‘Means beauty and strength ‘ – Vanessa
‘Black excellence, black smiles, black happiness, black love’ – kadejaha
‘Black Joy, to me, means celebrating the beauty, resilience, and richness of Black culture, history, and community. It’s about finding happiness, pride, and freedom in our authentic selves, despite the challenges we face. Black Joy is reclaiming spaces, creating moments of laughter and love, and building connections that remind us of our strength and brilliance. It’s about thriving, not just surviving, and finding power in shared experiences that uplift and inspire us to keep going.’ – Edmore
‘Happiness, community and action to take up space, enjoy it, and celebrate it! ‘ – Breanne
