I’m not entirely sure how Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggets and I met, but I know that it was right after my brother Daniel died. The author of BLACK JOY: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration and I connected over a moment of grief and how I turned that into motivation for my nonprofit We Sow We Grow. But you’re not here for that. You’re here for the third day in our Black History (because she’s making it) spotlight.

Discussing family, romance, motherhood, ancestors, faith, and much more, Lewis-Giggetts’ inspirational stories will recharge and invigorate you. Rich and healing, BLACK JOY is a liberating way to restore your spirit

Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts

Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggets is an author with 15 books and collaborations to her name. Writing columns for the likes of My Brown Baby, The Root, and The Washington Post means you may have possibly crossed paths with her work at some point in your life. The words hit you deeply and made you long to sit with her longer as you explored your very complicated feelings surrounding a subject that she suddenly made you more comfortable talking about.

With her book BLACK JOY: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration she delivers a timely collection of intimate, uplifting, and powerful essays. Unlike happiness, which is fleeting, Black joy is ever-present yet oft-overlooked, rooted in self-compassion
despite a world all-too-ready to criticize Black folks. Lewis-Giggetts offers transformative guidance and a profound reflection on the complexity of the Black experience. I believe that I got to experience this type of essay in real-time during a HeARTalk podcast episode that I participated in. It was a way to process the way I channeled my grief into joy and how it planted so many seeds for my future. Still hurts though.

If you’re looking for someone who embodies the joy of being Black, Tracey is a great start. Every Friday, she hosts a Black Joy Happy Hour on her Instagram. I’m partial to it because it shows us in a light so often denied in the media. Laughing, cracking jokes, dancing in the spirit at church, jumping rope, singing, and my favorite – kids being kids, fully and unapologetically. It’s a weekly pick-me-up that everyone needs.

One of the things that I’m hoping to be able to do is connect you all with living, breathing examples of Black History – to show you as the history is happening, because why wouldn’t we be honored to be connected with history in the making?

Consider showing your support of Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts by purchasing a copy of BLACK JOY: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration today. They are available in Kindle, Audible, Hardback, and Audio CD.