Radical Joy is the Resistance my Ancestors would have loved

 

Radical Joy as resistance might seem like a strange concept to most but to those of us who have BIPOC Ancestry, we understand exactly what that would have meant to our 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on generations of Grandparents. The simple things like being able to wake up, choose what you plan to do for the day or weekend like just going to the beach to rest, relax and laugh..

 I mean that deep down joy that's bottled up in your soul that makes your whole body feel good.  To just be without the possibility of violent reoccupations was like Russian Roulette.  

Our Ancestors were taught to play safe, stay in line, don't be too happy, don't act too free and definitely not be too serious. 

Only smile, shuckle and jive while serving folks to entertain them or run the risk of being called an uppity who needed to be put back in their place.   

Those were common dire consequences that could get your home burnt down, your pay taken away, someone accused of a crime or lynched. 

But for ourselves, expressing a joy, now that's pretty radical coming thru generations of indoctrination to sit down in public places, not have gatherings moving around too much which could make others feel uncomfortable, just enjoy being there, that only kids could run around but to a certain extent not to much... 

When I was enjoying myself on this swing smiling and laughing, out in central California, where seeing BIPOC's are minimal, there were a few People who were starring at me because they even knew that it was different to see. Sometimes, I observe People who are observing me too... 

Mostly thou, I had tuned them out, I just make sure I am aware of what's going on around me for safety measures.  I thought about my Ancestors who's DNA run lively through my veins and for them, I embrace this radical joy. Because of their strength, their hopes for a better future, I exist. I hope you do the same.