For centuries, Blackness has been too equated with agony and grief. Persistent and determined fights for racial equity have challenged and made shifts to this old narrative, but the world around us continues to reinforce the worst. It continues to portray Black people as criminal, dangerous, unbeautiful, unworthy, disadvantaged, and good only for what pleasures or labor our bodies can provide. But we know better. We know about bursts of laughter over home-cooked sancocho with family and arguments over the best jollof rice. We know about rousing, poignant protest music during marches for justice on behalf of all Black people. We know about cornrows, twist-outs, box braids, high-top fades, the right 'fits, Telfar bags, and dope kicks— hard-bottoms, sneakers, and everything in between-that influence culture around the world. We know about dances that go viral on social media, choreographed by teenage Black girls and then copied around the globe. We know the affirmations our elders speak into us that fortify us each day.

— The Black Joy Project by Kleaver Cruz (Page 1)