Black people are forced to relive the trauma of seeing someone that could have easily been their mother, brother, sister, or uncle be killed ruthlessly. To so frequently see Black life treated so callously on a regular basis, is the visual reinforcement of priming. Black pain and sorrow have become a mode of mainstream entertainment, something that one sees so frequently it is not part of the Black identity, it is the Black identity. Black people are continuously subjected to visual, mental, and physical trauma and are never allowed to simply exist, only survive.
In Uncle Tom’s Cabin, we see that when Haley was having a conversation with other slave catchers/traders the trivialization of Black pain as they swap stories about taking away Black children from their mothers. Haley talked about trying to sell a blind Black boy for a keg of whiskey and the mother “turns round, and pitches head first, young un and all, into the river,-went down plump, and never ris”(Stowe 139). In this instance, one can see that these white characters acknowledge the love between the Black mother and child but they can’t recognize or choose to ignore the humanity in that relationship. The desensitization and trivialization of Black pain are so frequent and ingrained in the Black identity that when popular streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix had the opportunity to share Black stories, they utilized movies like 12 Years a Slave, The Butler, When They See Us, and Fruitvale Station.
I believe Black joy should be as visible in the media if not more than Black pain because they can coexist with one another and it demonstrates the versatility of the Black identity. It’s also one of the reasons movies like Black Panther meant so much to the Black community not only in terms of its representation, but also in the depiction of Black excellence. It was extremely exciting to see actors in positions of power and as examples of Black beauty who looked like me. Sassafras, Cypress, and Indigo was a good example of illustrating the facets of the Black identity. Indigo was depicted as a character who had an intimate connection with nature and because “there wasn’t enough for Indigo in the world she’d been born to, she made up what she needed”(Shange 3). Indigo recognized that her perceptions of reality didn’t match the potential of her imagination which allowed for her to create a space to explore, embrace, and celebrate blackness. It was poignant to read about her celebrate Black girlhood despite the times she lived in and I would love to see more stories celebrating that aspect of the Black identity. Black joy is a form of resistance against anti-blackness and it should be celebrated and displayed as such.
Some of my favorite representations of Black joy in films and tv shows are: BAPS, The Wiz, Bad Boys, Cinderella(w/ Brandy), Friday, Love and Basketball, Insecure, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, A Different World, Girlfriends, and Living Single.
Discussion Questions:
- What are some of your favorite representations of Black excellence/joy and why?
- What does Black joy mean to you and what do you fell has shaped your perception?
Annabel, your discussion of Black joy and Black pain is very insightful and thoughtful.
Especially in the news today, it seems as though Black pain is constantly put on display
While it is important to acknowledge and awareness of the trauma and violence that Black people are subjected to on a daily basis, focusing exclusively on Black pain disregards the capacity for, the necessity for Black joy. This entire discussion recalled to my mind a tweet I recently read that said, “Remember that teaching your Black children to live with joy is an equally powerful form of resistance.”
Your post also called to mind our class discussion of the scene from The Bondswoman’s Narrative where Hannah Crafts stands in the hallway of portraits. What really stood out to me in this scene was Crafts joy and power as she stood in a room whose walls we decorated with the images of her oppressors. Although The Bondswoman’s Narrative does describe the experiences of an enslaved woman, Crafts is still able to artfully display Black joy.
These ideas also made me rethink my initial interpretation of the ending. When I first read the ending of the novel, it felt as though the happy ending sort of washed over all of the suffering that Crafts had endured. However, maybe my initial interpretation here was too quick to overlook the possibility for Black joy. Thank you for making me think!