Reviews

Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration by Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts

sarah_k14's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

paigereitz's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

itsmeamethyst's review against another edition

5.0

"If the means is joy, the end must be our healing."

This collection of 36 short essays is separated into 3 parts: As resistance, As resilience, As restoration. It reminds me of [a:Cleo Wade|16917853|Cleo Wade|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s [b:Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life|35297176|Heart Talk Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life|Cleo Wade|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520163639l/35297176._SX50_.jpg|56664030] in that it feels like a book without rules; it can be read front to back or even by choosing an essay at random.

It covers a range of topics from that center healing, joy, gratitude, freedom, and Black people while recognizing that Blackness is not monolithic - covering the duality of resisting categorization and claiming categories (e.g., when it comes to representation mattering or not or double consciousness being good or not, "it's always both/and and never either/or".).

The most moving sections to me were about her daughter. This book is even dedicated to her, stating "May your joy always be limitless and liberating." As a fellow mother of a joyous, confident, bright daughter who wants to protect her against the world stealing any of those things from her, I appreciate Lewis-Giggetts' saying, "Her experience of joy will be shaped by us, for sure. Like an archer pointing our bow and arrow in the direction of the ideal target, we will do our best in light of the systemic challenges to set the trajectory of her life in the direction of love, peace, joy, patience, discipline, grace, mercy, fun, and prosperity. But we do not control the wind. Boy, do I wish we did."

It wasn't until I finished the book and read the 'About the Author' section that I realized I had read Lewis-Giggets before, her essay in [b:You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience|56808517|You Are Your Best Thing Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience|Tarana Burke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617708754l/56808517._SX50_.jpg|88810745], "Love Lifted Me: Subverting Shame Narratives and Legitimizing Vulnerability as a Mechanism for Healing Women in the Black Church". I especially remember the last line of that essay, "The church has so much more than shame to give us."

In a world full of anti-Blackness, where our full humanity is often not recognized, this book serves as a great reminder that "Our joy is ever intertwined with our struggle; ever integrated with the trauma wielded against us."

Thank you to Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts, NetGalley, and Gallery Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.) for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

jmopheim's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

librarianin3b's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

freckleduck's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. I am a White person and I do not think this book was written for me and honestly rightly so. I found it moving and powerful and it made me teary eyed in sections. I appreciated the authors honesty and vulnerability and her willingness to be open and write.

_mox_'s review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

bookswooo's review against another edition

this book was insightful, discussing the ways in which Black folk often navigate a country dominated by white supremacy and how that affects their minds, bodies, and spirits. it also made me more aware of my positionality and presence as a white person. throughout the book, the author explores the collective need of Black folk to tap into joy as a means of resistance, resilience, and restoration. she shares that Black joy isn't something that occurs outside the experience/presence of pain, but a tool to wield in the face of it. it's a steady, internal source that can be drawn from, not something elicited, necessarily, by outside forces. Lewis-Giggetts also delves into her faith and how that has shaped her standpoint about joy and the means to experience it. glad to have picked this up!

mrsloudlibrarian's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

glendareads39's review against another edition

5.0

"We must relearn how to be present."

"Black Joy...is a mechanism for resistance, a method of resilience, and a master plan for restoration."

Black Joy is an uplifting, powerful and reflective book. The author uses her own experiences to help readers navigate the road of holding on to our joy. Black Joy is an essential read that helps you find that balance between joy and pain. It is a collection of essays that focus on the Black Joy within America through the lens of one Black Woman’s experience. The writing was transparent, vulnerable and honest. Trauma is expected and joy is hoped for in the Black community and finding ways to obtain joy through trauma seems impossible. This essay collection shows that Black Joy is a possibility.