A review by nic55
Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration by Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts

This book was just so warm. Idk how else to describe it. The writing was not only gorgeous, it was also reflective and vulnerable and so so compassionate. I can tell Tracey wrote this with a lot of care and it really allowed me to sink into the pages. I thought an essay collection about Black joy could run the risk of being repetitive but Tracey did a great job of exploring that concept from so many different angles while also weaving in personal anecdotes as well. The autobiographical elements were probably my favorite part of these essays. I really got to see how Tracey's trauma informed her insistence on making time for joy, how she worked through the need to perform for others to gain approval, how her healing journey affected her parenting, and so many other meaningful moments. Although I wouldn't say this book had super high highs or gave me any totally new revelations, a lot of this book really resonated with me. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of being swept away in Tracey's words.
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Reading this for my first ever adult book club irl, so excited!