WE ARE JOY

A colorful celebration of Black childhood joy.

There’s joy in rainbow swirls and family portraits, at backyard parties, and in fresh-baked pies; in memories shared through a grandmother’s songs and in communities gathered for righteous protest. An insistent message of love and togetherness pulses through both text and visuals. The words “We are joy / under sundrenched skies” are accompanied by an idyllic image of Black children playing gleefully in the water from a fire hydrant. “We are joy-full, / surrounded by laughter and light” finds the same kids enveloped sweetly in an older relative’s embrace as they read a book together. Familiar scenes of pride and achievement—a choral performance, a basketball game, a graduation ceremony—implicitly recognize the essential roles of religion, sports, and education in nurturing Black community and providing opportunities for excellence. Giles acknowledges struggle and sadness (“we are joy-starved / when our words are ignored / or the promise of justness is later… / later... / later”) but finally reminds readers that it’s essential to seek and celebrate Black joy amid challenges—because “joy is our resistance / and joy is our strength.” Thomas’ signature illustration style depicts children with sparkling eyes and broad emotive facial features, using a prismatically powerful palette that blurs the lines between vibrant reality and beautiful abstraction.

Persistently lovely and hopeful, a potent mirror.