Black Joy - Tumblr Posts
*may contain vague Seven Days In June Spoilers*
I woke up early this morning to finish SDIJ. I also had that instant feeling that it would become something that I hold close to my heart.
Eva’s struggles with her invisible illness are ones that I also have. The rain. The pain meds that numb you. The envy of abled-bodied people and the freeness of how they live life without every step, every movement, every breath being threatened by debilitating pain.
I was talking to a friend who had read the book prior to me who is also black. And we were just basking in the blackness of the novel. From the dialogue, to the inside jokes, to the clothes, and hair. Just the existence of two black main leads being unapologetically Black.
One of my fav things that we talked about was that this wasn’t a book about black pain. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of pain within those pages. BUT the entire arcs of these characters is learning how to live with and embrace their joy along with their pain. That’s what makes this so important to me.
Too often black media is depictions of slavery, addiction, gang violence, etc. Which have their own space. But it’s past time for black media to be filled with joy. We’re not just a people filled sadness and tragedy. We have so much love to share, and embrace.
It’s time we make room for our joy along with our pain. Give them both the attention they deserve without letting one outshine the other. Because without the other, they have no meaning.
just started reading "seven days in june" and im only a few pages in and i can already tell this book will mean a lot to me
i mean we have a Black female lead with a chronic illness and this quote just hit me:
"And her disability was invisible - she wasn't missing a limb or in a full-body cast. Her level of suffering seemed impossible for others to fathom." like COME ON
Four day weekend
