blackherstory hashtag performance

Replying to @Asia | Math Teacher Tips Here is my final door for Black History Month. I love how it came out. #blackhistorymonth #blackhistoryisamericanhistory #blackhistory #blackherstory #schoolsocialworker #blacksocialworkers #myblackisbeautiful

#JOYisHOLY - On this sacred occasion, I reflect on the life, legacy, and enduring message of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was a man of faith and courage, a tireless advocate for justice, and a revolutionary in the truest sense. But today, I want to talk about an essential force that sustained him through the trials of his journey: revolutionary joy. Revolutionary joy is more than fleeting happiness. It is the act of spiritually connecting to a source of inner strength that empowers us to remain at peace, even in the midst of life’s greatest storms. It is a practice of resilience—a choice to find hope, purpose, and light in a world that often feels heavy with injustice. When I think of Dr. King, I see a man who carried the weight of an entire movement on his shoulders. Yet, when I see photographs of him with his beloved Coretta, with his children, or even engaged in moments of quiet reflection, I see a joy that radiates from within. That joy was not naive or disconnected from the pain of the world. No, it was joy that fueled his fight, joy that gave him the strength to confront inhumanity, racism, poverty, and violence with a spirit of determination and love. Dr. King once described himself as a “drum major for justice.” And I believe that drumbeat—steady, resounding, and defiant—was powered by joy. Think of the civil rights movement: the marches, the sit-ins, the boycotts. There was pain, yes, but there was also laughter, singing, and a profound sense of community. People of all races, religions, and walks of life came together to fight for justice, and in doing so, they found joy in one another. They cared for one another, they strengthened one another, and they reminded each other of the dignity and humanity that no oppression could take away. This joy was revolutionary. It was a resistance to despair. It was a refusal to let the winds of hatred extinguish the light of hope. It was, as Coretta Scott King once said, “a happiness that is filled in a spiritual sense,” an inner joy that no force could steal. Revolutionary joy is not about ignoring the struggles we face. It is about centering ourselves, like the calm in the eye of the storm. It is about recognizing the beauty of the stars, even when chaos and confusion surround us. Revolutionary joy is the freedom to embrace who we are, even when the world tries to misunderstand or diminish us. May we never forget the shared struggles of our communities - of all people who have faced oppression and fought for liberation. We are also reminded of the shared joy we have found in solidarity. As Dr. King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” But I believe the reverse is also true: joy anywhere is a victory for justice everywhere. Let us embrace joy as a form of resistance. Let us dance in the cold snow, connect with creation, and tap into the ancestral rhythms that remind us of our strength. Let us care for one another and create a community where joy can flourish. Revolutionary joy is the blooming tree planted by the seeds of action. It is the wide-open freedom of the sky, and it is available to all who dare to pursue it. Today, I encourage each of you, as I remind myself: Have the audacity to embrace revolutionary joy. Resist the pressure to be defined by others, and instead, root yourself in the knowledge of who you are. Be the calm in the storm. Be the light in the darkness. And may this joy sustain you, as it sustained Dr. King, in the ongoing fight for justice and peace. May you walk boldly in joy today and every day. Ase. Todah rabah! #MLK #MLKDay #RevDrMartinLutherKingJr #MartinLutherKing #MLKholiday #CivilRights #CivilRightsMovement #BlackHistory #BlackHERstory #RevolutionaryJoy #JoyAsResistance #Joy #BlackJoy