Book Review:
A Year of Black Joy: Black Voices Share Their Life Passions
curated by Jamia Wilson
reviewed by Pact Staff
Activist, author and editor Jamia Wilson has created a fun and inspiring book for children and their parents to read together in A Year of Black Joy: Black Voices Share Their Life Passions (Magic Cat, 2023). Wilson approached a dizzying array of Black professionals—from musicians to beekeepers, from chefs to space scientists—with a simple question: What brings you joy?
Two brightly illustrated pages are devoted to each of the 52 contributors. First-person accounts of the experiences that bring them joy are accompanied by lessons or activities that allow the reader to dive further into their particular passions. For example, conservationist Tolga Aktas describes the joy he takes in discovering different habitats and working to protect them. On the next page, he provides an illustrated guide to different kinds of wetlands.
The book is designed like an almanac that families can dip into throughout the year. For instance, the profile of human rights activist Lady Phyll is linked to LGBTQ+ History Month.
Podcasters Sandria Washington and Dr. Samantha Coleman, Black adoptees who have been keynote speakers at Pact Family Camp, are featured on World Adoption Day. Adopted children of color will enjoy finding these “mirrors” of their identity included in the panorama of Black experiences. Washington and Coleman write about “the joy of owning your voice.” We love the advice they share with young readers: “Believe in what you have to say….Stretch yourself to speak up and speak out….Ask questions and listen to [other] perspectives….Remember who you are, where you came from, and what you stand for….Choose to make an impact in positive ways.” Valuable advice for all ages.
The calendar concept is stretched to the limit in order to link contributors to occasions such as National Rugby Day and National Decorating Month, but this can easily be ignored as readers work their way through the book in order or skip around to read about whichever individuals are interesting to them. And there are so many! Dr. Raven Baxter writes about the joy of scientific experimentation; adventurer Sibusiso Vilane describes his feeling of liberation when climbing Mount Everest; meteorologist Alex Wallace explains the different tools used to forecast the weather; athlete Wafula Strike shares the joy she gets from wheelchair racing, and comedian Inel Tomlinson breaks down how to write a joke.
The book was first published in the UK, and a number of the contributors are based in England. However, the text seems accessible and appropriate for an American audience. We can imagine parents reading a different profile with their child each day, relishing the scope and diversity of Black accomplishment, learning a little bit about many different professional worlds, and appreciating how this array of role models can help children imagine their own joyful, passion-driven futures. Recommended for older elementary and middle school readers and their parents.
This book is available to purchase from Pact.