“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” - Barack Obama

I found it imperative to end this digital collection with subjects of Black joy and happiness. Often when talking about Black history and art there is a focus on only Black rage and trauma. Elvis Montgomory discusses in his article the importance and value in African American heritage objects. Montgomery goes as far to say many African American objects go misunderstood, misanalysized and undervalued. Many works by African American individuals that tend to be most recognizable are ones depicting black struggles of any kind so I will leave off by vauling some of the works that exhibit black joy.

First let’s look into the famous piece, Nightlife by Archibald John Motley Jr (1891 - 1981) made in 1943. Archibald is most well known for his paintings that captured different scenes from black urban America. A very lively work that depicts the night scene at a bar with nearly all the attendees dancing. Black people are not just the ones serving in this work, they are also the ones drinking and dancing. This is a room full of black people dancing, drinking, and smiling. The lighting and the dancing of the bodies bring the work to life and make it memorable for the black joy shown.

Then we have Africa Restored (Cheryl as Cleopatra) by Kerry James Marshall (1955 - ) made in 2000. This work feels like an ode to African Ancestry and aesthetics. The collections of photos of well and less-known people that are connected to the black freedom movement. Another unique aspect to this sculpture is that each time it goes back on view Kerry Marshall adds another element to it, making it a living work. This reflects the living state of black culture, always expanding and changing as years go on.

In another work  by Kerry James Marshall (1955 - ) we are studying the essence of black love and romance. In Study for Vignette made in 2004, we see a black man and woman in an embrace with pink hearts and flowers around them. The two are standing in a field as they look at each other. The clear themes here are the essence of love, romance, and connection but also tied to the black experience.

Another sculpture piece we have is Sanctuary by Martin Puryear (1941 - ) made in 1982. Martin is most well known for working with wood and bronze in all of his works. Puryear himself had described the piece as “mobility with a kind of escapism. . .” The ability to keep moving forward but having the sense of security you long for. This work also goes to show us, even with the presence of struggle in our lives we still wish to have that secure place to retreat to that keeps us safe and away from other looming dangers that might follow us.

And finally we have a more casual and relaxed work, focused more on the moment it is capturing. A work by Jordan Casteel (1989 - ) called Baayfalls in 2017. Jordan is a painter who typically paints his friends, family, and lovers. A moment between the artist's former instructor and brother sitting side by side as the instructor sells hats on the street side. This work is included to show even the seemingly normal and average moments can be moments of black joy. Black people simply existing in spaces is a step in the direction of black joy.