Making Space for Black Joy

Poet and artist Joe Davis has been inspired by the experiences of the past year to co-create the “Radical Joy Sessions,” featuring music, dance and storytelling. Davis says radical joy is more powerful than oppression. 
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Georgia Fort reports:  The trial for three former Minneapolis Police officers charged with the death of George Floyd is being pushed back from this August to March of next year. Judge Cahill said he’s postponing the trial because of the high-profile federal indictment announced last week.
Poet and artist Joe Davis said the postponement just adds to everything else the community has had to endure this year.
“Living in Minnesota after George Floyd I’ve experienced the grief and rage but I also have experienced the hope,” said Davis.
The experiences of the past year inspired Davis to co-create with other artists the “Radical Joy Sessions,” a virtual concert series created to celebrate Black joy and amplify Black voices.
“Radical joy is more powerful than oppression. It is a joy that can’t be policed,” said Davis. “When I say radical joy I’m talking about an embodiment of a deeply rooted connection to one’s culture and identity especially in times of communal grief and collective trauma.”
Davis said it’s important for people to have space to process their emotions “so we can move with more clarity and so we can create the world that we long to live in, a world of abundance, a word of joy, a world of possibilities.”
The next radical joy session is May 15, including music, dance, and storytelling.

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