4 Ways Black Joy Can Help You Build Resilience

#BlackJoy. #BlackBoyJoy. #BlackGirlMagic. You might have seen these hashtags before. Social media made them more mainstream. But Black joy goes further back than this.

It’s been a consistent thread in history. From the Diaspora to today’s Black Lives Matter movement. That’s because being united in joy is powerful. Powerful enough to drown out the voices of oppression that constantly play in the background. Subtly or bluntly. It’s a demonstration of resistance.

“There’s a level of safety with Black joy,” says Donay Butler, LMFT, a licensed therapist and AbleTo’s Manager of Clinical Program Development. “It’s healing, mentally and emotionally. Understanding one another on a deeper level helps us resist being pushed aside. It allows us to thrive in a society that believes skin color makes you less than.”

In the Black experience, joy and resistance exist in a beautiful tension. There’s acknowledgment of the past and present. Without being defined by it. The Black experience understands both the pain and beauty of what it means to be Black in America. In many ways, Black joy is form of self care.

“Self care is many things,” says Butler. “But for Black culture, it was, and continues to be, a means of survival. Historically, we’ve seen self care through community. Cooking and sharing meals with each other. Or even singing and dancing.”

How to bring more Black joy into your life

Modern forms of Black joy vary. But they’re just as important in managing daily life stressors. Here are a few to cultivate.

1. Move to the rhythm

During slavery, dancing was a form of release. It was an art of expression. Dancing carried ancestral rhythms and movements. Over time, the dances evolved. But they continue to be at the center of Black culture.

During protests, crowds often break out in dances. It shows how Black joy (dance) and resistance (against injustice) exist in harmony.

But dance isn’t just a statement. A 2021 study found that dancing helped participants cope with stress-related health conditions. “Dancing has been shown to increase overall mental well-being by increasing endorphins,” says Butler. “With the increase of endorphins, comes the decrease of stress, anxiety, and depression-related symptoms.”

2. Embrace laughter

We’ve all had painful experiences. They transcend race, gender, and age. Luckily, so does a powerful antidote — laughter. During the pandemic, a viral Instagram post helped bring the modern Black Joy movement to the forefront.

It was a simple carousel of Black people laughing. While news feeds were filled with uncertainty, posts like these brought the community together under the umbrella of joy.

“Trauma is hard on our mind and bodies,” says Butler. “But when a person laughs, it triggers a natural bodily response that eases that pain. Throughout history, Black people used laughter to connect with others who’ve been through similar experiences.”

Studies show that laughter can improve depression, anxiety, and stress. It can be as simple as watching silly videos. Going to a comedy show. Or joining a laughter yoga group. (It’s a real thing!)

3. Be unapologetically you

For hundreds of years, America has tried to silence Black culture. They’ve tried to assimilate Black people with “shoulds.” You should dress like this. Talk like this. Raise your children like this. And so on. These “shoulds” are emphasized when it comes to Blackness.

Trying to constantly live up to society’s “shoulds” is exhausting. Plus, there’s not one right way to be Black.

That’s why being unapologetically Black — whatever that means to you — is a form of resistance. It’s proudly embracing everything that comes with the culture. It’s reclaiming the narrative around Blackness.

Self-expression. Living authentically. Owning who you are (without apologizing). These are powerful ways to define your own identity. It’s also just as important for your mental health.

“Authenticity is the key to being oneself,” emphasizes Butler. “Society has often painted this picture that continues to impact our mental health. But by accepting who you are, you’re free to be yourself. Without judgment.”

4. Find your joy

There isn’t a formula for finding what brings you joy. One day it’s a donut. Next week it’s shopping. Sometimes it’s just silence. It’s more about being aware. What does joy look like to you?

It might be helpful to create a list of moments that brought you joy in the past. Like cooking, painting, or hiking.

Butler adds, “Writing is an amazing way to keep track of ‘feel good’ moments. And the moments that were difficult.” Journaling allows you to do a “mental dump.” It helps clear the things standing in the way of experiencing joy. The Freewrite Journal in the AbleTo app can help you get started.

Make joy a lifestyle

Both Black and non-Black people can take part in the ongoing commitment to uplift the Black community. Here are a few ways to do that.

• Elevate Black voices in the workplace
• Educate yourself on the realities of being Black in America
• Shop at Black businesses. Online and in-person.
• Support Black artists. Attend concerts, art, and fashion shows.
• Advocate for equitable policies in your industry
• Connect with organizations making a difference
• Get involved in local government. Vote for policymakers and laws that drive change.

Celebrate Blackness through self care

To experience Black joy is to resist systems of oppression. Black joy doesn’t let centuries of unfair treatment have the final say. Black joy perseveres. Black joy overcomes. Black joy is self-expression. Black joy is self care.