The Necessity of Joy as a combatant to racial oppression

Group of joyful Black people smiling and raising their arms in celebration

The Necessity of Joy

Africans enslaved in the British Empire and in the US understood that they were not free, just as they knew that their descendants would not always be enslaved. They knew that they had a right to joy and pleasure, and insisted upon it in a myriad of subtle ways. The practice of joy and pleasure, for the enslaved, was the first form of resistance. It provided shining hope during times that seemed endlessly dark. It provided sustenance when it seemed they must otherwise starve. Joy provides a counter to life lived in a constant state of (di)stress and thwarts the consequent destruction of the mind, the body and the soul. Insisting upon joy is a political act. Told that Black people are “too loud” we laugh and speak louder. Told to be quiet, we turn the noise up. For Black people, holding on to joy is a determination to claim control where we can; it is a statement of agency and self-governance; it is both a choice and a right; it is our inheritance.

“The very serious function of racism…is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and so you spend 20 years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says that you have no art so you dredge that up. Somebody says that you have no kingdoms and so you dredge that up. None of that is necessary.”

Toni Morrison

“Beyoncé’s Ode to Black Joy: Merging Past and Future in ‘Renaissance’”. By Janell Hobson. Ms. Magazine. 8 August 2022.

"Black Joy: Resistance, Resilience and Reclamation". By Elaine Nichols. National Museum of African American History and Culture.

"Helicopter Parenting". T&J Family. 9 March 2025.

"The Hug that went Viral on Facebook". David Sadler with ChasonFromTheSouth. 24 March 2016.

"'Obama Out': President Barack Obama's hilarious final White House correspondents' dinner speech". White House Correspondents’ Dinner. 30 April 2016.

"President Obama's Anger Translator". White House Correspondents’ Dinner. 26 April 2015.

Transcript available at Obama White House Archives.

"What Happens When Zombies Are Racist". Key and Peele. Comedy Central. 21 October 2021.

"Supercallousfascistracistsexistnazipotus". (A political parody anthem), Johnny and the Lawmen. 8 April 2025.

“Unpacking Black Joy From The Revolutionary to the Ordinary”. The Root. 18 February 2021.

"What Black Joy Means And Why It Matters More than Ever". By Chante Joseph. Vogue. 29 July 2020.

"What is Black Joy and Why do We Need it in Our Lives". BBC Ideas. 3 September 2019.

What is Black Joy?

Explore the links below to discover contemporary writings and videos exploring Black Joy:

“What I’ve learned from myself is that I don’t have to be anybody else. Myself is good enough.”

Lupita Nyong’o

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime show
"Black and brown pride have been taught in my household for a long time"

Recent Highlights

Beyoncé: From Renaissance to Cowboy Carter
"The joy of creating music is that there are no rules"

David Jonsson Crowned BAFTA Rising Star
"I kind of like the way I act and hope that people take something from it"

Superfine: Tailoring Black Style at the 2025 Met Gala
"Dandies commit to a study of the fashions that define them"

In 2025, David Jonsson was awarded the BAFTA Rising Star Award. In his career so far, Jonsson has starred in the television drama series Industry (2020-2022), the 2-part adaptation of Agatha Christie's Murder Is Easy (2023)–becoming the first Black lead to star in a Christie adaption–and several films including the horror film Alien: Romulus (2024) and the British romantic comedy Rye Lane (2023).

This accolade is the only BAFTA award voted for by the British public, and Jonsson joins the growing list of Black actors who have have been recognised for their talents and up-and-coming stardom which includes Lashana Lynch (2022), Bukky Bakray (2021), Micheal Ward (2020), Letitia Wright (2019), Daniel Kaluuya (2018) and John Boyega (2016).

Kendrick Lamar's much anticipated Super Bowl Halftime in 2025 show did not disappoint, and proved to be a vibrant celebration of Black culture and Black music. The show featured guest appearances from SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and Mustard and joyfully explored themes and imagery relating to African American history.

Lamar had previously co-headline the Super Bowl Halftime show in 2022 alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Mary J. Blige, a performance which won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). His 2025 performance as the solo headliner broke viewership records and became the most-watched Super Bowl performance of all time with 133.5 million viewers in America tuning in.

Watch Lamar's full halftime show on YouTube.

Since the release of her universally acclaimed sixth studio album Lemonade in 2016, Beyoncé has turned her focus to a trilogy of concept albums that seek to inspire joy while exploring the legacies of Black musicians and artists. The first instalment, Renaissance, was released in 2022 and with the second, Cowboy Carter, following in 2024.

Cowboy Carter in particular reimagines Americana through a celebration of its Black roots, and Beyoncé has said that "One of my inspirations came from the overlooked history of the American Black cowboy". This album received 11 Grammy nominations, becoming the most nominated album by a woman, and won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "II Most Wanted", Best Country Album as well as Album of the Year.

Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the theme for the Met Gala 2025 and Costume Institute’s Spring 2025 Exhibition is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. This theme is a celebration of the Black Dandy through a joyful examination of the importance of clothing and style to the formation of Black identities from the 18th century to the modern day.

Find out more about the exhibition here.

Watch a discussion of this year's looks on CBS.

Kendrick Lamar performing in the middle of a group of people wearing red white and blue in the pattern of the American flag.

(Screengrab via Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Halftime Show)

“I’m not asking for permission: Joy is my birthright.”

Brea Baker