In this final week of Black History Month, I want to celebrate African Americans’ history, culture, and the richness of their lives—not just their struggles. Kleaver Cruz,[i] founder of the Black Joy Project, defines Black Joy not as a denial of past and present injustices but as a way to reclaim agency, improve lives, and break barriers. While some Caucasian people may feel uneasy about discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion, empowerment within any community fosters a ripple effect of positivity. Black Joy is a testament to resilience and well-being, offering lessons for everyone, regardless of background. This post explores what we can learn from it.
Black Joy: A Powerful Act of Resistance
Black Joy is more than happiness—it’s a form of resistance against the oppression that has long plagued African American communities. It is a refusal to be crushed by systemic racism, injustice, and historical trauma. Black Joy manifests in music, festivals, dance, protest, and artistic expression, from poetry and performance art to critical discussions on race.
The struggle isn’t just against external oppression—slavery, systemic racism, and erasure—but also against internalized colorism and self-doubt. The pressure to conform to the dominant race is strong, often at the cost of cultural and ethnic identity. As Alok Vaid-Menon writes in Beyond the Gender Binary, “Power can be defined as the ability to make a particular perspective seem universal. Control is how power maintains itself; anyone who expresses another perspective is punished….” Instead of assimilating into a society that often disrespects and devalues Black lives, embracing Black Joy is a powerful act of self-affirmation—one that honors identity, culture, and strength.[ii]
Adapting to Both Natural and Man-Made Disasters
Throughout history, humans have adapted to natural disasters like floods, fires, and disease. But as societies advanced, they also created human-made disasters—colonization, oppression, war, and slavery. These atrocities have shaped nations, including the United States, where the legacy of exploitation and racial injustice continues to impact Black lives today.
The Impact of Racial Trauma
Unlike personal tragedies—such as accidents, natural disasters, or the loss of loved ones—racial trauma is collective and ongoing, disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). It can be sudden and violent, like being targeted for the color of one’s skin, or slow and systemic, such as generational poverty, economic oppression, and racial violence, including the terror once inflicted by groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
Hope can feel distant when white supremacy still operates both overtly and covertly. Standing up to oppression is often dangerous, but always necessary. In this fight, Black Joy is more than just a moment of relief—it is a powerful sign of post-traumatic growth, proving that even in the face of adversity, resilience and celebration can thrive.
What is Post Traumatic Growth?
Post-traumatic growth (PTG) occurs when individuals discover strengths and qualities they might not have recognized before experiencing trauma. This doesn’t mean trauma survival is free of pain or suffering, but rather that growth can emerge alongside it. PTG often manifests as a greater appreciation for life, increased compassion, deeper self-reflection, a stronger sense of purpose, and more meaningful relationships.
In the face of racial violence—such as during and after the COVID-19 pandemic—it may seem unimaginable that African Americans and Asian Americans could endure such hardships and still experience PTG. Yet, according to Chin, Smith-Clapham, and Wyatt (2023), [iii] encountering racism can prompt deep reflection on racial identity, leading to a more personal and empowered understanding of one’s race. This process often unfolds through storytelling, visual art, and writing, fostering a stronger sense of self and more meaningful activism.
Research by Landi et al. (2022) [iv] highlights psychological flexibility as a key factor in PTG, showing that holding onto personal values strengthens resilience. Living in the U.S. requires mental adaptability, as circumstances shift while systemic issues like racism persist. Coexisting with those who may perpetuate harm—without resorting to blanket condemnation—demands both flexibility and nonduality. [v]
Embracing and expressing cultural identity is an act of resistance and a form of Black Joy. Despite racism, colorism, and classism, celebrations like Juneteenth and the Black Joy movement foster healing and strength. As Miracle Jones shares in her powerful TED Talk, [vi] choosing to smile despite pain is not about surrendering the fight or excusing racism—it’s about refusing to let oppression diminish your authentic self.
How does Black Joy apply to you (and me)?
Black Joy, like LGBTQ+ Pride, defies simple definition. It is a feeling, an expression, a movement—a self-created gift from an oppressed people to themselves. It is both a survival strategy and a triumph over forces that should not exist. It celebrates culture and humanity while also standing as a commitment to resist injustice. As noted earlier, it reflects post-traumatic growth, not as an excuse for mistreatment but as a testament to resilience.
Society imposes narrow definitions of identity, not just on marginalized groups but even on those within the dominant culture—heterosexual, Caucasian, middle-class individuals included. We are all socialized through rigid lenses, and any deviation from the “norm” is seen as defiance, though the stakes differ for each of us. Still, self-definition is essential to living authentically.
Rather than feeling threatened by communities asserting their rights through activism, song, dance, and pride, we can find inspiration and hope. Those outside these groups can empathize with their struggles, while those within them can recognize that “existence is resistance.” We do not have to let oppression define our entire reality. Grieving our losses and healing from trauma is necessary, but tragedy is not the whole story. The strengths we develop in response to hardship are just as real. As Maya Angelou reminds us: Still, I/we/you rise.[vii]
If you have experienced trauma from racism or any part of your identity, trauma therapy can be helpful to heal and to recognize any PTG you may have unearthed without even realizing it. Please call 661-233-6771 for an appointment.
Endnotes:
[i] https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/black-joy-resistance-resilience-and-reclamation#:~:text=Kleaver%20Cruz%2C%20founder%20of%20The,with%20the%20joy%20we%20experience.
[ii] https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/611537/beyond-the-gender-binary-by-alok-vaid-menon-illustrated-by-ashley-lukashevsky/
[v] https://www.discoursemagazine.com/p/what-james-baldwin-can-teach-us-about-the-problem-of-race-in-america-today