Description

NAACP Image Award Finalist for Outstanding Debut Author

Featuring 117 full-color photographs and eight powerful essays, this stunning collection is a vibrant celebration of Black life across the globe. Blending the intimate storytelling of *Humans of New York* with the rich historical depth of *The Black Book*, *The Black Joy Project* is a breathtaking testament to resilience, culture, and the sustaining force of joy.

“A patchwork quilt of visually stunning images, captured moments of triumph, antidotes to trauma narratives and rich, ebullient emotional and verbal spice for the soul.” – Michael W. Twitty, culinary and cultural historian, and author of *The Cooking Gene* and *Koshersoul*

“In literature, there are some books that transcend mere pages and ink, becoming essential pieces of cultural expression. One such book poised to make its mark is *The Black Joy Project*…. This ambitious work breaks new ground.” – *Essence*

Black Joy can be found everywhere. It lives in the rhythmic energy of Lagos, in hip-hop pouring from apartment windows in the Bronx, and in the breathtaking landscapes of Namibia’s coastal deserts and Jamaica’s Blue Mountains. It thrives in the spiritual traditions of Bahia’s Candomblé, in the avant-garde fashion of Soweto, and in countless other places where Black people create, live, and love. Now, this one-of-a-kind book brings that truth to life in an unforgettable way.

Expansive in scope, bold in its message, and visually stunning, *The Black Joy Project* is unlike anything before it. Through compelling prose and remarkable art by an array of acclaimed contributors, this book affirms that joy is just as essential as resistance. It acknowledges the pain of systemic oppression while celebrating the moments that make life meaningful—protest chants blending with music, mourning followed by second line parades, microaggressions countered by the warmth of home.

Black Joy has always coexisted with struggle. It is a deep, necessary force that sustains and empowers, offering a vision of hope and new possibilities. *The Black Joy Project* captures this balance with extraordinary depth, leaving an indelible impact.

Created by educator and activist Kleaver Cruz, *The Black Joy Project* extends the work of a real-world movement dedicated to healing and reimagining Black existence. Long overdue yet perfectly timed, this book is essential for anyone who values art, history, and freedom. It asks, *What does Black Joy mean to you?*