Did anyone's play or poem topple a dictatorship? No, but they provided the space to evoke feelings and moods other than fear, anxiety, and hopelessness. Memorizing and reciting lines from beautiful poetry and great works of theatre offered relief, however momentary, to feel less alone in their understanding of injustice and what is possible in the face of it. The quiet performances of these literary works in basements, the backs of churches, and other clandestine spaces cultivated communities of people who reminded one another of the power of the collective. It's that awareness that comes with choosing joy.

— The Black Joy Project by Kleaver Cruz (Page 28)