Between a global pandemic that refuses to go away, the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests heard round the world and the trial for former MPD Officer Derek Chauvin, 2020 and 2021 have been rocketed by fear, anxiety, anger and grief. But there are also incredible pockets of Black joy in the form of celebrations like Juneteenth and Rondo Days, cookouts with extended family members, and church barbecues. Those happy occasions allow Black Minnesotans to take off the mask they wear in every other part of their lives and just be themselves, together in community, enjoying whatever is on the grill and a can of Big Red. They also create a place where we can learn about our history. Where we can connect with our loved ones and get in touch with our roots. Why Are Cookouts So Important for Black Joy? By Kyeland Jackson and Kevin Dragseth
We caught up with four local movers and shakers to ask the question: What makes community gatherings so necessary for Black joy?
Sani Brown, Ultimate Entertainer Barbecue, like the cookout, I feel like that’s the one place – and I feel like this the older I get – I feel like that’s rebellion. That’s a space that we’ve created for us and our families and people in our communities where we can just be joyous and not have to put on a mask. There’s a joy and a freedom in that of just being and not always having to feel the need to explain who you are, why you’re here, why you matter. I think that’s really what the cookout is.
Arthur Buckner, Musical Genius and Host of TPT’s YouTube music education series Sound Field : Black people have mastered happiness. Black people have mastered fun, musical genius, we’ve mastered that. But when it comes to love, showing love, I think Black people have mastered the act of coming together in community, right? And these festivals, these parades, these celebrations, the carnivals, the whatever we’re talking about, the cookouts, that’s like the full embodiment. And you can see the complexity of Black people.
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