Even though looking back now I have some mixed feelings on the group, at the time they did provide a new type of role model to young women and paved a path for other women in the industry by not fitting into the existing generic mold. I grew up in such a situationlearning how to have a good time with nothing because we had nothing. And not every church I've been is a space of joy. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. When I think about the role of women in social justice, I immediately think of Black women. 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. faith.yale.edu/media/joy-and-the-act-of-resistance-against-despair. Celebrations function in much the same way in human life. But isn't difficulty, suffering, hardshiparen't these necessary conditions for joy to even take place? Joy is a sign of vibrant life, of thriving. New Submission. The ones who will choose to journey with you through the fantastic & the foolish. As in so many fields, burnout is a serious risk, especially because activist work is rarely well-compensated and because the strong sense of personal responsibility many activists feel makes it hard to take breaks. This inexplicable power to dance in the midst of mourning is not to be smugly dismissed, as has many suggest, as some sort of slave religion or momentary hyper-spiritualized pie in the sky delusion. Black joy is, and always has been, an act of resistance. } Audre Lorde sums this idea up this clearly in her 1978 essay, The Uses of the Erotic, In order to perpetuate itself, every oppression must corrupt or distort those various sources of power within the culture of the oppressed that can provide energy for change. She goes on to point out that this has often been marshaled in patriarchal societies for the oppression of women. In communist Albania, the regime of Enver Hoxha famously banned the saxophone. You've come into a space that is not your own, and in some ways that space has claimed you as its own. Things arent perfect, but these bold women are responsible for a lot of change in thought around girls and women what they are capable of, their value, their position, etc. This post, however, has left me feeling sad rather than joyful and hopeful. Adreinne Waheed, photographer and author of the photo book Black Joy and Resistance documents, in its purest form, that the essence of happiness and enjoyment are inextricably linked to resistance. Photo by Maria Baranova. The collective representation of Black people in the industry is abysmal, as evidenced by multicultural children's publisher Lee & Low's baseline survey. Resistance creates suffering. Extrapolate how the actions I have outlined above may impact the way you write an appeal letter or organize a campaign. We don't think spatially as we should. And like an old cassette tape, the world presses stop, rewind, and play. Willie Jennings: Yeah. No. (646) 846-3896 | admin@nycafp.org. People who refuse to come to earth. And then the second thing you have to have is a willingness to want to hold on to Life, even when there is very little that makes sense in life. We also need moments of release and celebration to mark the small victories and restore body and mind. PTKF2158-5. a piece on the power of the garden at Rikers Island. Report; 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 Aesthetics of joy can also disrupt complacency, drawing much-needed attention to a cause. Miroslav Volf: Things are going to be better. 5. Authors and activists Maya Angelou and Isabel Allende join GLIDE co-founders Janice Mirikitani and Reverend Cecil Williams at a Sunday Celebration in January 1996. Resistance is when I make sure everybody else stops going along too., Most gun control arguments miss the point. Hi Ingrid, I am a musician and Ive been creating music and performances that bring joy and also have an activist/educational component. Often there is no reason to make such choices outside the context of the primary choice that calls for them.". 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! One example of this phenomenon is prison gardens. 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! Joy is an Act of Resistance Arts Corps Breaks Down Barriers in Arts Education By Carolyn Coons Arts Corps teaching artists work with students during the 2018 Arts Liberation and Leadership Institute (ALLI). We've been taught that silence would . We relive the same ritual again, and again, and again. People who refuse to come to earth. - Psalm 30:5. This is great! Their music and message empowered my girlfriends and me to feel that we were enough, without needing boyfriends or to look and act a certain way. Miroslav Volf: How does one find the kind of strengths? At all points in the fight for equality for Black Americans, women have been driving the movement. But strong and destructive, too. And something else, I think to myself. History month and why rewriting history to exclude the African American's place in it is so perfidious, its founder said it best, "If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the . 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Albert Einstein A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness. Joy As An Act Of Resistance / - ( CD, Album) Partisan Records, Hostess Entertainment Unlimited. It makes me feel good to give back, not saying no every time. Maya Angelou is a very good inspiration, especially for African American women, saying that she could rise above nations. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words., Where there is power, there is resistance., It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end., People get used to anything. So it is pushing back. To me she was the embodiment of my existence as resistance. To choose joy is to say that regardless of years of systemic oppression, unfair disadvantages, and everything life may try to throw your way, in the words of the late Maya Angelou - "Still I Rise.". It's almost like joy is this plant that is more easily springs in adversity than it does in a kind of plenty and posh kind of life that breeds more indifference. Brutalism Tracklist T-Shirt. Joy lets us reclaim our humanity. To this point, Brown says, Part of the reason so few of us have a healthy relationship with pleasure is because a small minority of our species hoards the excess of resources, creating a false scarcity and then trying to sell us joy, sell us back to ourselves.. They have always looked out for the marginalized and supported them in how to equalize themselves and not victimize themselves. Professor Jennings, it's great to have you with us. And so what we have neglected is that joy is fundamentally tied to space. She is a badass! I think that's the first thing you have to have. Search within the 97 Quotes About Joy. With Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramrez. Hope is an elusive yet vital ingredient for activism. Every year African American History month has a new theme. } else { Author Cheryl Strayed writes in her book Wild about how her mother made a choice everyday to find peace, even when things were difficult. Come and join me and my colleagues on the AFP NYC IDEA Committee where we not only embrace inclusion, diversity, equity and access but we further these ideals within the Fundraising profession through planning, collaboration, implementation, and of courseJoy. Its a curious feature of autocratic regimes that forms of joy are often banned. We must walk a path of joy even against our doom. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. As I said, there is the kinds of spaces constituted by practices of joy, like in music, as I call it "sonic space." I remember people handing flyers to the guy I was with and not to me as if I werent autonomous, or men saying things to me like, youve got a really good record collection for a girl. As I became more aware, I found myself influenced by girls and women who were challenging the existing power structure of rock n roll. Elephants celebrate when the herd is reunited after a separation, stamping around, peeing, and trumpeting with their trunks. Oops! Thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback. 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. Evan Rosa: For the Life of the World is a production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. It wouldn't be easy to find her, now. When I think about the question, Is it ok to feel joyful while the world is (literally) on fire, while babies are in cages and glaciers are crumbling and billionaires stand by self-righteously counting their billions, I come back to Jack Gilbert. "But eventually you will find you return to your original behavior and attitudes. When people have worked to build entire systems to break you, they are angry that you still can have joy. But if you can give, if you're truly passionate about supporting podcasting that's all about pursuing really living lives that are worthy of our humanity, then consider a gift to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. I love you. We know the ritual all too well. Produced by Space and mixed by Adam Greenspan & Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Kate Bush, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Joy as an Act of Resistance. I am printing this post in order to keep the many good points at hand. I'm Evan Rosa with the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. We are planning a team day at work, and youve given me lots to think about, and a framework for justifying some fun activities. Love the ones you claim. "Yes. My pleasure. There is a joy that draws peoples together rather than a joy that's built within segregated spaces. Joy as an Act of Resistance (and who, pray tell, can resist a title like that?) Willie Jennings joins Miroslav Volf to discuss the definition of joy as an act of resistance against despair, the counterintuitive nature of cultivating joy in the midst of suffering, the commercialization of joy in Western culture, joy segregated by racism and slavery, how Jesus expands and corrects our understanding of joy. Stop. While we can justifiably be concerned about rainbow-washing, its a measure of success that brands and companies see LBGTQ pride as something theyre eager (even desperate) to be associated with. The reverse is also true that the secret of joy is resistance. Joy is an act of resistance. Whatever that is, go find your joy. There IS hope!! Essentially, hope is the belief that tomorrow can be better than today. We are proud to share this second installment of reflections in our Womens History Month series honoring womens roles in resisting oppression and advancing social justice. For me, the work of an organization like Publicolor, which paints neglected New York City schools with vibrant colors, restores abundance to a place where this false scarcity has been imposed. Willie Jennings: Well, practically you have to have people who you've heard sing those songs in strange lands. And we'll be back with more next week. If you're new here, please hop onto my email list so I can send you weekly emails full of GIFs (and also podcasts, articles, and generally amusing cheerleading for . Sometimes people in the coffee shop offer to help me out, even though I tell them they dont have to, but when they do help I say to them, Hey, on fried chicken day, I got you.. If you're in a position to support our show financially, please consider partnering with us. , I loved your book, and this post really lifted my spirits. We are not attuned to a world in which we have to work with what's been thrown away because we are the ones who throw away. She also goes into prisons to empower and open safe spaces for queer folks. "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. And there are many of us out there, more than you think. Christopher McCandless It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. Joy: Directed by David O. Russell. I will read it again with an open mind and see if its just my over sensitivity to political messages and political leanings when Im looking for neutrality and joy for all. The ones who are yours. This is not what they imagined. Genres: Post-Punk, Post-Hardcore. It's the parade . To me she was the embodiment of my existence as resistance. Joy has an edge, it doesnt exist in vacuum. My mother, and three sisters: Jean Cooper, Zwazzi Sowo and Lillian Mark! We must havethe stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthlessfurnace of this world. I plan to share it with my friends and families, just as I shared your book. - Sam Storms. Not enjoyment. Well, as the organist played and the choir sang, Jesus is My Help, she was dancing. 330 Ellis St., San Francisco, CA 94102 | info@glide.org. But for those two minutes we turned that cemetery from a place of death and mourning into a place of life and honor. The suggestion that Juliet will "give" her "bounty" to Romeo is the most explicitly erotic moment in their conversation . You can try to pin me down with a hundred thousand arms, but I will find a way to resist. The language of oppression is one of scarcity and fear, and I think to some extent, the activists goal must be to remind those who have been convinced that progress is a losing game for them that there is in fact enough to go around. In this live workshop series, you'll learn evidence-based strategies to reclaim your joy and create a life you love. Joy is an act of resistance: how to reclaim your identity and find your voice - Anil Sebastian - Change Makers Podcast Joining Michael Hayman today is Anil Sebastian, the artist, musician and creative director of specialist sonic branding agency DLMDD. I'm Evan Rosa, and I edited and produced the show. One of the challenges of activism is that the fights are long, the progress often slow, and the effort required thankless and grueling. And we did. Willie Jennings: Public rituals bound to real space. I have no earthly idea how it happened. Football coaches, mentors, family members and friends told story after story of how this young man had made a positive impact on their lives and how devastated they were to lose him. It is one the things that makes us truly human. Willie Jennings: I look at joy as an act of resistance against despair and its forces, all the forces of despair. Willie Jennings: Yeah, this is where I wonder out loud if the life of Jesus, a kind of Christological intervention, is what's necessary for us to re-conceive joy that opens us out rather than encloses. The album was a huge critical & commercial success, peaking in the UK Albums Chart at No. Lyrically, Joy as an Act of Resistance focuses on lead singer Joe Talbot's troubled past & many timely themes like . That feeling is the perfect combination of knowledge, experience, skill, luck, and magic called Fundraising. It requires you to choose it from a sea of other options. We can do without pleasure, but not delight. Miroslav Volf: What is joy for you as a theologian, as a church men, as a black man? The ones that your heart recognizes in the light & in the dark. Joy takes something that might be threatening to people, such as difference or otherness, and makes it less so. Even in the rebellious punk rock subculture, misogyny was rampant. Join our email list for theological and cultural commentary, educational resources, and more. This is the joy of resistance. This week, we're featuring a conversation between Miroslav and Willie James Jennings, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and africana Studies at Yale Divinity School. 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. To be able to choose our joy and experience it, this is the freedom so many are fighting for. Men told you what to listen to, what to like. Wolves howl together after a hunt. Photo by Amy Pion How in the world is anyone to eek out an ounce of hope to press on? I get to have all that no matter how ugly things look. Cal State Fullerton African American studies professor Mei-Ling Malone explains: "Black joy is an act of resistance. And as if nobody there missed a beat, Ms. Myricks, and everybody there knew that it was time to dance in his honor. Nature, whether the wild forest or a manicured garden, has the power to soothe anxiety, reduce rumination, and restore the ability to focus. Resistance is the secret of joy wrote Alice Walker in her 1992 novel, Possessing the Secret of Joy Walker. And here I'm not thinking primarily about African-American or African diaspora communities, but I'm thinking about the way in which multiple communities, their joy is inside of a hard segregation. - C.S. We need it as much as we need anger because it is joy that will help keep us in. Lee's grandaughter, Dione Sims, who is also a civil rights advocate, has been helping her in the . So depriving a group of people of joy, whether through an outright ban, or the denigration or shaming of their sources of pleasure, or through economic means, is a method of dehumanization. Then, think about the direct service work you do with your organization. When you think about why everyone should celebrate Black History month and why rewriting history to exclude the African American's place in it is so perfidious, its founder said it best, "If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated." List for theological and cultural commentary, educational resources, and magic Fundraising. A moment, and his favor is for a lifetime & # x27 ; be. That space has claimed you as a theologian, as the organist and! 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