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THE BLACK JOY PROJECT®

THE BLACK JOY PROJECT ®

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Featuring 117 full-color photos and eight breathtaking essays on a force that fuels Black life all around the globe.

“In literature, there are some books that transcend mere pages and ink, becoming essential pieces of cultural expression. One such book poised to make its mark is The Black Joy Project…. This ambitious work breaks new ground.” – Essence

Black Joy is everywhere. From the bustling streets of Lagos to hip-hop blasting through apartment windows in the Bronx. From the wide-open coastal desert of Namibia to the lush slopes of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains. From the thriving tradition of Candomblé in Bahia to the innovative and trendsetting styles of Soweto, and beyond, Black Joy is present in every place that Black people exist. Now—at last—is a one-of-a-kind celebration of this truth and a life-giving testament to one of the most essential forces that fuels Black life: The Black Joy Project ®.

ABOUT

One morning in late November of 2015,

RESOURCE GUIDE

Over the course of developing and expanding The Black Joy Project, I have crossed paths with many joy makers and outlets of joy. What better way to conjure more joy than sharing about the places where it already exists? The following is a list to browse through if you are eager to learn about more places to find joy. Make new connections with people, discover a new place, and try something new in your neighborhood. Let this list inspire you, as it has inspired me. By no means is the list exhaustive, let it serve as a launch pad. 

MUSIC

TBJP Book Playlist

Music has been a lifeline on the journey of writing this book and the many challenging life and world events that occurred during the process. This playlist is an amalgam of the lyrics, beats, sounds and languages that sparked joy in moments when it was most fully present and when it was hard to find at all.

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ART

Black Collagists | @blackcollagists

A digital archive aimed to highlight works of Black collagists around the world. Founded and curated by Teri Henderson.

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The Black Joy Museum | www.museumofblackjoy.com

A digital museum created and curated by long-time activist and artist, Andrea “Philly” Walls to serve as “a borderless refuge for the observation, cultivation, celebration and preservation of black joy.”

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Osengwa | osengwa.disha.page

A neo-African encounter. A collection of lovingly curated pieces of contemporary African influenced art, music and clothing designs.

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TAK-The Art Kultured | @theartkultured

A Nairobi-based art agency that amplifies the many talents of African artists. They have an incredibly insightful project called #100daysofwomenartistsea to amplify art made by women in East Africa.

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Gallery Gurls | @gallerygurls

Gallery Gurls spotlights Black and POC changemakers in contemporary art in New York City and beyond. Since 2012, its Black Latina EIC and Founder, Jasmin Hernandez, and contributors, have reviewed dope exhibits, interviewed game changers in contemporary art, both emerging and established, and much more.

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BOOKS + MAGAZINES

Back in the Days | Jamel Shabazz

A photographic documentary of the hip-hop scene in 1980s New York City before it blew up into the global multi-million-dollar industry it is today.

The Black Trans Prayer Book | Co-edited by J Mase III + Dane Figueroa Edidi

An interfaith and beyond faith collection of poems, spells, incantations, theological narrative, and visual offerings by Black Trans, Non-Binary, and Intersex people.

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FESTAC ’77 | Ntone Edjabe, Graeme Arendse, Ziphozenkosi Dayile, Duduetsang Lamola, Stacy Hardy, Bongani Kona, Ben Verghese, Moses März, Akin Adesokan, Mamadou Diallo, Dominique Malaquais, Terry Ayugi, Andrea Meeson, Eva Munyiri

An incredible anthology and collection of materials and primary sources related to FESTAC ’77, the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture hosted in Lagos, Nigeria in 1977.

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Forever Young: James Barnor | Edited by Renee Mussai

The first monograph of legendary Ghanaian photographer James Barnor who’s work and life has spanned some of the most iconic and historic moments in Black history of the 20th century.

Justice of the Pies: Sweet and Savory Pies, Quiches, and Tarts Plus Inspirational Stories from Exceptional People: A Baking Book | Maya-Camille Broussard

Delicious recipes for with a purpose from celebrated Chicago baker and star of Netflix’s Bake Squad.

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Quarto de Despejo / Child of the Dark | Carolina Maria de Jesus

A seminal work in Afro-Brazilian history, de Jesus’ diary entries-turned book about her daily life in a 1950s São Paulo favela changed the world forever when it was first published in 1960.

We Do This ‘Till We Free Us | Mariam Kaba

A powerful collection of essays about liberation that uplifts the understanding that the power to get free is within everyday people. Kaba offers her always insightful perspective as she works through questions of freedom and how to get there.

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The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother’s Life in the Detroit Numbers | Bridgett Davis

Set against the backdrop of Detroit in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the story of the life of a one-of-a-kind matriarch whose business in the Numbers made her daughter’s dreams come true. (Source: Goodreads)

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Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration | Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts

When Tracey M. Lewis-Giggetts wrote an essay on Black joy for The Washington Post, she had no idea just how deeply it would resonate. But the outpouring of positive responses affirmed her own lived experience: that Black joy is not just a weapon of resistance, it is a tool for resilience.

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Black Joy | Various, Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff (Edited by), Timi Sotire (Edited by)

Edited by award-winning journalist, and former gal-dem editor-in-chief, Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff and up-and-coming talent Timi Sotire, twenty-eight iconic voices speak on what Black joy means to them in this uplifting and empowering anthology.

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BUSINESS

Dive in Well

A company founded by Maryam Ajayi to make the wellness space more equitable and accessible to BIPOC people. The company works with individuals and businesses with the intent to amplify people of color’s voices in the world of wellness and its industry.

Drama MaMa Bookshop

This Baltimore, MD based business was borne from a healing process to work through the loss of a close friend, Alison L. Brock’s shop sells beautifully crafted journals as well as host workshops for participants to create their own.

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GetSomeJoy

A creative wellness agency that supports communities and organizations with joy-flavored trainings and experiences.

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The Ivorys

A passion project turned clothing and apparel brand led by Brittany and Rashaad Dixon made to inspire.

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Most Incredible

Most Incredible is a New York and Chicago-based creative studio aimed at celebrating and commemorating the artists and moments that continue to elevate and define hip-hop culture – through LEGO.

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Rayo and Honey

Owner and artist, Roachele Negron transforms phrases from literature, affirming quotes, and pop-culture references that inspire her, into hangable and wearable artworks.

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The Sable Collective

A Philadelphia-based boutique curated for Black women to explore their narratives of joy, beauty, and wellness.

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Shoppe Black

A trusted hub and resource for all things Black-owned created by Shantrelle P. Lewis and Tony Lawson.

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Slay

THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR LGBTQ+ ENTERTAINMENT
SLAY TV is dedicated to curating and developing original and honest content that you want to see.
Web-series, movies, shorts, non-scripted, documentaries and more.
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Slick

A power tool for black and queer creatives. Founded and led by Ricky Davii

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Yaya

A creative studio that provides decolonized learning and creative development for makers, creators, and organizations across Black and indigenous diasporas.

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Zambo Aroma

A Black-queer owned and New York City-based shop that specializes in crafting herbal-infused all-natural body care products, including soaps, body butters, body scrubs, candles, and more. Their soaps are made by hand, using natural oils and botanicals. Each item is not just skincare but a work of art created to promote self-care and love.

 

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MOVIES + DOCUMENTARIES

Summer of Soul | Directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was largely forgotten–until now. SUMMER OF SOUL shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present.

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 | Directed by Göran Olsson, IFC Films

The film mobilizes a treasure trove of 16mm material shot by Swedish journalists who came to the US drawn by stories of urban unrest and revolution. Gaining access to many of the leaders of the Black Power Movement—Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, Angela Davis and Eldridge Cleaver among them—the filmmakers captured them in intimate moments and remarkably unguarded interviews.

Moonlight | Directed by Barry Jenkins, A24

A moving film that chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.

Rafiki | Directed by Wanuri Kahiu

Bursting with the colorful street style & music of Nairobi’s vibrant youth culture, RAFIKI is a tender love story between two young women in a country that still criminalizes homosexuality.

The Wiz | Directed by Sydney Lumet

A 1978 classic film and re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz through a Black cultural lens. Starring Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Ted Ross and Nipsey Russell.

Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse | Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

In this epic animated film we are introduced to Miles Morales, the Spider-verse’s first Afro-latinx Spiderman and his journey to becoming the iconic superhero.

Breathing Black | Directed by Tina Canady

An exploration of the roles of Black joy, healing and breath in the lives of Black Baltimoreans filmed in the wake of the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

ORGANIZATIONS

African Voices Magazine

A not-for-profit cultural arts organization dedicated to fostering cultural understanding and awareness through literature and the arts. Established in 1992, African Voices publishes a quarterly literary magazine and sponsors literary readings, art exhibitions, writing workshops and community programs.

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AfroResistance | Bronx, New York

A community-based organization that addresses the diverse political, economic, and cultural needs of the growing Latinx and Caribbean populations in the United States, with a special emphasis on African Descendants and Indigenous people.
www.afroresistance.org

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Alma Preta Jornalismo | São Paulo, Brazil

Uma agência de notícias e comunicação especializada na temática étnico-racial no Brasil.


A news and communication agency specialized in race-based issues in Brazil.

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The Black Feminist Project | Bronx, New York

Its mission is to enrich the lives of, restore agency, justice, joy, and health to Black Womxn, girls, and non-men, often referred to as marginalized genders or MaGes and the children they care for—with an emphasis on mother-led families.

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Black Joy Parade | Oakland, California

A hyper-positive non-profit that celebrates the Black experience and community’s contribution to history and culture with its signature parade and celebration, partnerships, and events.

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Black Veterans Project | U.S.

An organization committed to elevating public education around the unique history of Black veterans in the United States.

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BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective) | U.S.

A national training, movement building, and grant making institution that is dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of Black and marginalized communities.

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The Black Archives | Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The Black Archives is a unique historical archive for inspiring conversations, activities and literature from Black and other perspectives that are often overlooked elsewhere. It also documents the history of Black emancipation movements and individuals in the Netherlands.
www.theblackarchives.nl

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Black Cultural Archives | London, UK

A groundbreaking institution in London’s Brixton neighborhood that aims to collect, preserve, and celebrate the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in the UK

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Black Trans Femmes in the Arts | US-based

A community-based arts organization that builds community and mobilizes resources to support Black trans femme artists (artists who were assigned male-at-birth and now identify somewhere underneath the femme umbrella). www.btfacollective.org

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Blak Dot Gallery | Naarm (Melbourne), Australia

The leading gallery for contemporary First Nations art in Australia. Blak Dot Gallery was established in 2011 as a contemporary First Nations artist-run space to showcase contemporary artworks from world Indigenous cultures.

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Bondfire Radio | Brooklyn, New York

An interactive live stream network providing a unique blend of entertainment and valuable information for its listeners led by Keisha “TK” Dutes + Conscious Walker.

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Coletivo Kilomba (Kilomba Collective) | United States

Kilomba Collective é um coletivo dedicado a centrar a perspectiva e a realidade do povo negro brasileiro, especialmente mulheres e meninas negras em suas múltiplas identidades, no cenário internacional, conectando-se com outros movimentos de mulheres negras da diáspora africana.


A collective dedicated to centering the perspective and realities of Black Brazilian people, especially Black women, and girls in their multiple identities, as well as connect with other Black women’s movements in the African Diaspora.

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EveryBlackGirl, Inc | Columbia, South Carolina

A South Carolina-based organization that organizes and provides programming to address the conditions leading to BlackGirls  being pushed out of schools and becoming at risk for arrest, confinement and incarceration. Specifically, EveryBlackGirl, Inc. is interested in creating change to prevent: disciplinary referrals, suspensions, and expulsions of BlackGirls; state and interpersonal violence; anti-Blackness and invisibilization of BlackGirls.

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The Free Black Women’s Library

The Free Black Women’s Library is a social art project, interactive installation and book collection that celebrates the brilliance, diversity and imagination of Black women and Black non-binary authors. The library features four thousand books written by Black women, as well as workshops, readings, story circles, performances, cultural conversations and a monthly reading club.

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Marsha P. Johnson Institute | US-based

Named after the iconic activist, MPJI is an organization with a mission to protect and defend the human rights of BLACK transgender people by organizing, advocating, creating an intentional community to heal, developing transformative leadership, and promoting our collective power.

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Muñecas Negras RD | Dominican Republic

Es una iniciativa que busca el empoderamiento de mujeres negras y niñas de la Republica Dominicana


An initiative to empower Black women and girls via Black doll-making and self-esteem workshops facilitated by local Black women and activists.

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PRIM | UK

A digital platform for storytelling; born out of not seeing enough Queer Black stories and stories, in general, of people of Black ancestry. The focus is to make stories by African, Caribbean and Afro-Latinx fam available and readily accessible.

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Sankofa Village Community Garden | Pittsburgh, PA

Led by Master Gardner Vicky Ayanna Jones, this initiative aims to teach young people in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The initiative is intended to address issues of a food apartheid as well as train folks on techniques of self-sustainment.

Soul Fire Farm | Grafton, NY

An Afro-Indigenous centered community farm committed to uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system. Its programs reach over 160-thousand people a year. www.soulfirefarm.org

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Still Nomads | Melbourne + Sydney, Australia

A creative research platform focused on African black art based on Wurundjeri + Boonwurrung + Darug lands.

Weeksville Heritage Center | Brooklyn, New York

An historic site and cultural center in Central Brooklyn that uses education, arts and a social justice lens to preserve, document and inspire engagement with the history of Weeksville, one of the largest free Black communities in pre-Civil War America. www.weeksvillesociety.org

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PODCASTS AND MORE

AfroQueer

A platform all “about queer Africans living, loving, surviving and thriving, in the African continent and its Diaspora.”

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Black in the Garden

A celebration of Black experiences in the garden at the intersection of Black culture and horticulture. Hosted by Cola B. Tawkin.

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The Cheeky Natives

A Black literature podcast and platform focused on archiving and amplifying Black stories. Hosted by Dr. Alma Nalisha and Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane.

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Girl Down Podcast

Hosted by Aeon, a Black trans woman in the DMV area, as she unpacks the uncertainty of her 30s one episode at a time. Aeon frames her experiences through a Black fat queer transfeminist lens.

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Oroko Radio

A not-for-profit independent internet radio station based in Accra, Ghana that aims to connect, inspire and empower through conversation, collaboration and community.

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Radio Caña Negra

Hosted by Janvieve Comrie, Dash Harris and Evelyn Alvarez who engage in critical conversation “with the sharpness of a machete and the sweetness of cane sugar” focused on Black Latin American experiences.

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Tea with Queen + J

“Two womanist race nerds dismantling white supremacist patriarchal capitalism over tea!”

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Ursa Short Fiction

A platform dedicated to celebrating outstanding short fiction, with an emphasis on spotlighting underrepresented voices.

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GATHERINGS + INITIATIVES

Black Queer Joy | @blackqueerjoy (Instagram)

A platform dedicated to amplifying the joy of Black queer folks. Founded by Dalila Ali Rajah

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Black Men Smile | @blackmensmile (Instagram)

An apparel and programming platform to amplify and celebrate the way Black men see themselves.

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E.N.D. - Every Nigga Deserves | @everyniggadeserves (Instagram)

The name says it all.

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Moyo Afrika

A digital platform created to showcase, empower and connect Africa to the world, Africans in Diaspora, our culture, lifestyle, entertainment and everything that keeps the heart of Africa beating.

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UK Black Pride

Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern descent. In additional to the annual event, they promote and advocate for the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual health and wellbeing of the communities they represent.

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