The Black Joy Project
A literary and visual love letter to how we thrive.
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. The Black Joy Project 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.
International in the scale, fist-raising in the prose, and chock-full of gorgeous works by dozens of acclaimed artists, The Black Joy Project does what no other book has ever done. In words and art, it puts joy on the same track as protest and resistance … because that is how life is actually lived. Uprisings in the street, with music as accompaniment. Heartbreaking funerals followed by second line parades. Microaggressions in the office, then coming home to a warm hug and a garden of lilacs. The list goes on.
Black Joy is always held in tension with broader systemic wounds. It is a powerful, historically important salve that allows us to keep going and reimagine new ways of being. The Black Joy Project captures these dual realities to incredible, unforgettable effect.
The brainchild of educator and activist Kleaver Cruz, The Black Joy Project is an extension of a real-world initiative of the same name. It has become a source of healing and regeneration for Black people of all backgrounds and identities. Long overdue and somehow still worth the wait, The Black Joy Project is a necessary addition for any book lover, art enthusiast, or freedom fighter. And begs the question, What does Black Joy mean to you?
Kleaver Cruz is the creator of The Black Joy Project®, a digital and real-world affirmation that Black joy is resistance. Says Cruz, “The Black Joy Project has always been about taking the time to hold up mirrors for each other. Be it in conversation, writing, workshops, videos, audio recordings, photos, and all the ways Black joy continues to manifest.
“Black joy is not about running away from pain or the context in which we exist, but rather that in the face of those obstacles we can conjure a force that offers us healing, time to reflect, and good ol’ regular fun and good feelings. Thassit. And, that with that power we, collectively, can cultivate a world where that is the base of our existence and where we get to exist with a love and appreciation for us that is reciprocated. That world is possible.”
Cruz is a Black queer creative, writer, and educator who has presented and conducted work across the African Diaspora in places like Brazil, South Africa, and The Netherlands, among other countries.
The Black Joy Project features 117 full-color photos and eight breathtaking essays on a force that fuels Black life all around the globe. Learn more about the book at kleavercruz.com/the-black-joy-project.
