Black Joy is a transformative force. It is a visceral, deeply embodied reminder of the precious euphoria of our humanity. It is the source of Black resilience which is itself the wellspring of Black Liberation.

‪#‎BlackJoySundays‬ are a supportive place we can be affirmed in our Blackness, fellowship with other gorgeous Black people and discuss some of the racial stress we experience. Yet above all, it is space where we cultivate a shared sense of Black joy.
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This is a space for Black people, which means ALL Black people.

So make sure to bring your love for Black Women, Black People facing homelessness, Black Trans* Folk, Black Youth, Black Muslims, Black Queer Folk, Black Jews, Black Men, Black Gender Non-Conforming Folk, Black Elders, Black people thriving with disabilities [seen and unseen], and All Black Everythang!

We are a diverse diaspora and all our loves are unique. All that love will be put to good use this afternoon!!

Please closes your eyes, sit up straight and reflect on these words.

Honor all of your emotions in this space. And let your thoughts flow to warmer, more supportive waters.

My soul is an endless stream. Deep, dark waters of power and understanding flow through me. The flow of my soul is a powerful torrent of emotion and knowledge. It is flexible, malleable but head strong, cruising ever southward, home.

When I meditate, I ride this well of feelings and information towards my greater, more authentic self. Through action and community I have learned that my stream is a mere tributary, flowing and twisting and turning in tandem with others. Through action and community I can draw on the streams of understanding and emotional power of those I am in community with.

Through a cycle of action, communion and reflection my community is developing a revolutionary praxis that allows our streams to coalesce into rivers of transformative change. We carve canyons in the sides of mountains of oppression. We leave beyond gorgeous sandstones paintings of transformations on the walls of the mountains that used to keep us in a spiritual valley.

Breathe in deeply, exhale slowly and reflect on these words:

You are a being on the path to liberation.

Your community marches for liberation alongside you.

You are resilient. You are powerful. You are bold.

You are loved because you deserve to be loved.

You love because you know your love can transform the world.

You must set yourself and your people on a path towards the light,
Do not merely set yourself against the darkness.

Seek out a joy that radiates from your bones and lights up the whole world.

As a Black feminist freedom fighter you must work to reclaim the erotic.

Let yourself enjoy the sacred pleasures of boundless joy and communal optimism.

Find, accept and foster that part of you that seeks Black excellence.

Temper your sorrow with the sound of the laughter, the feeling of a warm embrace, the taste of cornbread, the smell of shea butter and the sight of melanin.

Know that you are beautiful, you are not alone and collectively we are powerful beyond measure.

Black women are beautiful, they are not alone, and collectively we are powerful beyond measure.

Black trans women are beautiful, they are not alone and collectively we are powerful beyond measure.

Black people facing homelessness are beautiful, they are not alone and collectively we are powerful beyond measure.

Black youth are beautiful, they are not alone, and collectively we are powerful beyond measure.

Black elders are beautiful, they are not alone, and collectively we are powerful beyond measure.

Black men are beautiful, they are not alone, and collectively we are powerful beyond measure.

Black returning citizens are beautiful, they are not alone, and collectively we are powerful beyond measure.

Black queer folk are beautiful, they are not alone and collectively we are powerful beyond measure.

As Black feminist freedom fighter you know that self care is a revolutionary act.

It is your duty to fight for freedom by any gorgeous, elated, joyfull, double-dutching, dozens playing, singing or otherwise melanin infused means necessarily.

Liberation is a type of collective emergence.

As you breathe in all the joy of the universe, imagine yourself liberated.

As you breathe out a little bit of the stress and pain, feel yourself getting lighter

As you breather in all the love of the universe, imagine the gorgeous revolutionary this movement is making you

As you breathe out a little bit of the trauma and the hesitancy, feel yourself getting stronger

As you breathe in all the happiness of the universe, feel liberation growing inside you

As you breathe out more of the hesitancy, imagine yourself releasing your own sense of liberation with this community

As you breathe in more of the Black Joy of this space, repeat the phrase:

I am beautiful, I am not alone, and collectively we are powerful beyond measure

until you are centered.