Author Cheryl Strayed writes in her book Wild about how her mother made a choice everyday to find peace, even when things were difficult. (646) 846-3896 | [email protected]. "Our joy in itself is an act of . Singer Joe summarizes: "This album is an attempt to be . It is well known in America that Black History month is celebrated for the entire month of February but, did you know it was created by a Fundraiser! Sydney, a founding member of EL Education's Student Advisory Council, makes the impossible seem possible daily by using Black joy as an act of Black Resistance. Their mission is to protect and support the dignity of marginalized individuals and communities. Im so, so glad to hear it resonated with you! How to reclaim freedom from all kinds of bullshit. Reply Helpful. Thank you so much for saying this. At one level, it is tied to real spaces and places. (II.ii.) "If you want to be the best, you can't take the path of least resistance. Take, for example, The Singing Revolution: a four-year series of protests involving mass singing demonstrations that swept across Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia between 1987 and 1991, eventually leading to their independence. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Thanks so much for sharing. Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies, Yale Divinity School, Founder & Director, Yale Center for Faith & Culture, Defining joyan act of resistance against despair, "Resisting all the ways in which life can be strangled and presented to us as not worth living", Making productive use of pain, suffering, and the absurdtaking them serious. GLIDE remains deeply committed to the struggle for gender equality. Willie Jennings: Yeah. Let us know what you're interested in. I see the outcome of their efforts now that Im older. The ones who are yours. Yet even the smallest kernel of it can move nations. Joy, and celebrations in particular, focus our attention on our commonalities, not our differences. Since then, my ideas on empowerment and the Womens Rights Movement have definitely changed, but I still believe it is incredibly important for young girls to have strong female role models early in life. To make injustice the onlymeasure of our attention is to praise the Devil. For women, this has meant a suppression of the erotic as a considered source of power and information within our lives. The denigration of feminine forms of joy, such as romance novels and films, fashion and home decor, is another manifestation of this insidious form of repression. is one of the defining moments in modern punk and, with any justice, will stand as a testament to the working classes of the world and prove that new rock music is still being produced that can reach into your chest, tear out your heart-and then give you a great big hug that makes you feel like everything might . And it creates a very different way of thinking about joy. I'm Evan Rosa, and I edited and produced the show. It counters and contrasts with the rigidity and control of oppressive structures in a non-violent way. The hooting spreads among the group, and the chimps begin to hug and kiss each other, with friendly body contact increasing as much as a hundredfold. takes aim at everything from toxic masculinity, nationalism, immigration, and class inequality - all while maintaining a visceral, infectious positivity. They are killed. As I began to slip in the depths of my own sorrow and yield to the temptation to surrender my heart to the dreadfully stark nihilism in this ritual around black bodies, I looked up and saw Dariuss mother, Rishawna Myricks. Women like Emma Watson, Malala and Beyonc (who thankfully introduced so many people to the amazing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) are empowering young women through their speeches, actions and music and providing a gateway to larger feminist and social justice movements. When psychologists study people engaged in communal singing, dance, or other rhythmic forms of entertainment, they find that we become connected on a physical level. Then, think about the direct service work you do with your organization. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, with funding from several philanthropic foundations, told the story of African American history and the largely overlooked achievements of Black Americans which were not available to the public. And as we made our way out of the church and then jumped into cars to file over to the cemetery, she was the one who, along with local Black Lives Matter activists led her community in a chant to Say His Name!!. The ones that your heart recognizes in the light & in the dark. And so we did. This is the joy of resistance. We're grateful that you're listening to this podcast. She resisted violence and oppression by asserting her existence and that of those around her. (44.15) All of the Handmaids at this posting (Glen's) are called Ofglen (of Glen). And there are many of us out there, more than you think. Thank you, Martha. It reminds the teachers and students that they are fully human, fully worthy and deserving of a full and beautiful life. At that moment, I witnessed the joy of a community that, even in mourning, knew that it had access to one of the most powerful tools of resistance to a system of state sponsored violence and oppression that seeks to crush the joyful spirits of vibrant communities like these. "In contexts where your energies have to be focused on survival, it doesnt leave a lot of energy for overt forms of complaintyoure spending a lot of energy just trying to hold it together. Search within the 97 Quotes About Joy. Joy is an Act of Resistance Chapter Leadership Brief 2.10.2023. We are a people that has born witness to and embodied the miraculous ability to dance on the head of the enemy of our souls and press on to create a future that we do not yet see, and to do it with defiant joy. UK & US. When Im in the coffee house [GLIDEs dining room reserved for families, the elderly and the physically disabled] and people are sitting there still hungry, I dont rush them out or ask them to leave. Whether its the transcendent joy of sacred ritual or the simple joy of cultivating a garden, the pursuit of joy amid great struggle is a way to tend our humanity when it is most threatened. C.S. But while there are good reasons to fear complacency, joy is fundamentally different than turning a blind eye. She lives in my native and beloved city of Bogot, Colombia, where she divides her time between teaching and working for an amazing nonprofit, PARCES. Not enjoyment. In this live workshop series, you'll learn evidence-based strategies to reclaim your joy and create a life you love. Eugene H. Peterson We are two abysses - a well staring at the sky. And there are so many silences to be broken.". "That's the heart of rock 'n' roll, that's its . So it is pushing back. , Slowly but surely shes changing the lives of those she directly works with, while also helping to create legislation that ultimately will transform Colombias society into a somewhat more just and inclusive place. You have to have conditions set up where those people who have learned how to ride the winds of chaos can say to you, "Come on, let me show you how to do that." She said she tries to acknowledge the difficulties that others might encounter in these unprecedented times while also caring for herself and those around her. Carter G. Woodson. Seeing her and PARCES gives me hope for Colombias future. Joy takes something that might be threatening to people, such as difference or otherness, and makes it less so. Like Romeo, Juliet sees love as a kind of freedom, "boundless" and "infinite.". They have always looked out for the marginalized and supported them in how to equalize themselves and not victimize themselves. by FANTANAMOBAY. One example of this phenomenon is prison gardens. "You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. Miroslav Volf: I don't know whether I'm maybe romanticizing things, but it seemed to me that from what I have observed growing up, but also when I have traveled, that I find more joy in the midst of oppression in almost paradoxical way, than I find in plenty. This is the joy of the Lord that is our strength. We need it as much as we need anger because it is joy that will help keep us in. How in the world is anyone to eek out an ounce of hope to press on? Quote Joy is an act of resistance. Other soldiers wrote home requesting flower seeds to plant. } else { What does a life of healing, flourishing, and joy even look like for communities that are constantly riddled with deeply traumatic pain? There's a very powerful analogy to, if you will, the work of the spirit at that moment, that a space is created not by you, but in a strange sort of way without you knowing it, it's for you. Joy: Directed by David O. Russell. Not enjoyment. Dancing was similarly reviled, and all types of celebration found themselves in the crosshairs of European colonists setting out to spread Christianity and civilization around the world. Rosa and Maya inspire me in my work. Willie Jennings: As I like to say, I'm a child of the church. People who refuse to stop believing. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. joy is an act of resistance $75.00 It is imperative to connect with joy and evolve our own personal practice of compassion. They are slandered, defamed, and discredited in the press. In communist Albania, the regime of Enver Hoxha famously banned the saxophone. Miroslav Volf: So if you have a kind of cultural logic that sets patterns for expressions of joy, but it ends up being segregated joy, how do you break open out of the enclosure? Marsha was a performer and activist who dedicated herself to supporting the most vulnerable LGBTQ New Yorkers with clothes, food and resources. Choir singers heart rates synchronize; musicians playing the same riff have brain waves that line up. Love the ones you claim. Anne K. Ream is the founder of The Voices and Faces Project, a global storytelling project, the author of "Lived Though This: Listening to Sexual Violence Survivors," and a Founding Co-Chair at World Without Exploitation, the national coalition to end human trafficking and sexual exploitation. ("Joy of the Sabbath") and founded by historian Emanuel Ringelblum (1900-44). People who love in a world without walls, people who love into hate, into refusal, against hope, and without fear. Two . a : the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (such as disease, toxic agents, or infection) b : the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (such as a drug) formerly effective against it 3 : an opposing or retarding force 4 a "If they cannot love and resist at the same time, they probably will not survive.". In 1915, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, Alexander L. Jackson, William B. Hartgrove, George Cleveland Hall, and James E. Stamps told their story and changed the world by founding what has become Black History Month. Suddenly its not scary or shameful to call yourself a feminist. AFP New York City Chapter . Growing up in the 90s, they were really my first exposure to feminism (lite) with the idea of Girl Power and that women could do anything despite what others thought or expected. So, simply put, joy can be considered resistance because its a form of energy for change, as Lorde puts it. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect.". It is mind-boggling to them that Black people can still find peace. Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel described a memory of a fellow prisoner trading a ration of bread for materials with which to piece together a makeshift menorah during Hanukkah. There is a joy that draws peoples together rather than a joy that's built within segregated spaces. I do say you can go back upstairs and get another ticket, but I also give them all the food thats left at the end! How was she coping? The more dehumanizing the circumstances, the more we need these markers of our humanity. $j("#generalRegPrompt").hide(); And so we must risk delight. And we must know that to do so is not a distraction from resistance, but one of its greatest sources of power. I loved your book, and this post really lifted my spirits. Fundraising is the vehicle a worthy cause utilizes to traverse obstacles which would otherwise prevent it from being heard. While communal joy represents an outright danger to a repressive regime, individual joy can also empower resistance. referencing Joy As An Act Of Resistance (LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, 180 Gram, Gatefold) PTKF2158-3. There were incredible women like Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth before the end of Slavery, the women making lunches and marching during the Civil Rights Movement, and the women of the Black Panthers supporting the social programs and keeping the organization running. People who refuse to come to earth. Like water, we mostly follow the path of least resistance., I had no real communication with anyone at the time, so I was totally dependent on God. People who love in a world without walls, people who love into hate, into refusal, against hope, and without fear. You have to have people who can show you how to sing a song in a strand land, laugh where all you want to do is cry, and how to ride the winds of chaos. Check out our joy act resistance selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. One of the challenges of activism is that the fights are long, the progress often slow, and the effort required thankless and grueling. Local authorities often forbade or disrupted native rites, or at minimum made relinquishing them a condition of conversion. Lewis. There is that space. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Societal change always involves a lot of pain as those with privilege and power often refuse to listen or take responsibility for the suffering theyve caused. I suggest you look to some literary greats who not only captured the relevance and significance of the African American life but lived extraordinary experiences themselves like, Ida B. Miroslav Volf: Things are going to be better. Joy as an Act of Resistance (and who, pray tell, can resist a title like that?) No doubt you won't find many people who regularly think about their lives in this very moment and associate joy. Your submission has been received! faith.yale.edu/media/joy-and-the-act-of-resistance-against-despair. They resist being changed., Most of us have two lives. Support For the Life of the World by making a gift to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: faith.yale.edu/give. You can hear him in podcast episodes 7 and 13 of For the Life of the World. Often there is no reason to make such choices outside the context of the primary choice that calls for them.". But what does this phrase really mean? To be Black and joyful despite and against all the odds is an act of resistance. All in all, the church and multiple churches have been places of extreme joy, surprising joy, and to quote the title of a famous book by CS Lewis, places where I've been absolutely "surprised by joy," stunned by joy. As a result, she was verbally pummeled, berated and called a feminazi (a total oxymoron). Update on December 22, 2015 by Pastor Jack Wellman. What was she doing? It takes something for joy to be brought forth, and I love that youre standing from this viewpoint. She poured her heart out on stage, she demanded that the men stand back so that women could literally and metaphorically come forward as she very bluntly called out misogyny. I can only imagine it must have been extraordinary to hear him speak. And we'll be back with more next week. People who refuse to stop believing. We danced like Darius was right there with us. Thanks for listening. 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