Too often, conversations about the Black experience are limited to narratives of hardship, trauma, and struggle. While those truths matter, they’re only part of the story. At Black Excellence CIC, we choose to centre joy. Not as a luxury but as a powerful act of resistance and reclamation.

Why joy? Because joy reminds us of who we are outside of survival. It connects us to heritage, rhythm, flavour, and freedom. When our events feature live music, dance showcases, soul food pop-ups, and comedy nights, we are curating a cultural tapestry that affirms life. We are creating emotional sanctuaries where our people can just be without explanation or apology.

The power of joy is that it is contagious. When a young Black girl sees a dancer who looks like her commanding a stage or a child hears laughter ringing from a Black-run comedy lounge it imprints something deeper than just entertainment. It tells them, your existence is beautiful and worthy of light.

We don’t ignore the struggle, we just refuse to centre it. Our joy is loud, public, and persistent. It is a declaration that Blackness is abundant, diverse, and whole. So we’ll keep throwing markets, festivals, and performances that prioritise joy as a radical force.

Because joy isn’t just nice to have. It’s necessary for liberation.