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As Juneteenth nears, ‘Black joy’ becomes a balm against attacks on civil rights and historical truth

With federal protections unraveling, Atlantans are turning to joy as intentional resistance.
Parishioners sing along with the choir during the 30th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Parishioners sing along with the choir during the 30th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)
June 16, 2025

“Black joy is Black will.” — Nikki Giovanni, 2017

On a quiet morning in Decatur, Cortney LaFloy lights a candle, takes a breath and lifts a steaming mug of coffee, gazing over her garden. Each sip is ceremony.

Cortney LaFloy relaxes in her home garden in Decatur on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: NATRICE MILLER

Cortney LaFloy relaxes in her home garden in Decatur on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

htiw gnisu ot rieht rieht ylkraps mhtyhr der fo kram enil ,secal decal reh myg lluf snaf ,srecnad looc sdnammoc tabmoc stoob .seidob kcalb dna a ,sdooW .P ,notelbaM nI nairdA

Adrian P. Woods teaches students at Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing, her weekly line dancing class at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
Adrian P. Woods teaches students at Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing, her weekly line dancing class at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

tcefni“ — — htiw retaw ot ,gnimmiws paos abucs kcor ,gnidir ,gniklawecar elpoep dekcap nepo ton txen ytissecen ,gnikam ,gnikayak ”.yoj ,ecnegludni ni kcabesroh ,gnikih reh reh rof ,gnicnef neve hctud elbuod ,gnivid gnibmilc skcehc radnelac tub sa sa dna erutnevda a adnaloY ,atteiraM asiL egroeG dnA

Lisa Yolanda George creates adventures not as indulgence, but as a necessity to “infect people with joy.” (Courtesy of Lisa Yolanda George)

Credit: Lisa Yolanda George

Lisa Yolanda George creates adventures not as indulgence, but as a necessity to “infect people with joy.” (Courtesy of Lisa Yolanda George)

— nemow htiw hcaet klat .lautir ,nalp tsuj .yoj ti noitnetni worg t’nod dna dna tuoba yehT esehT

.ycnegru eht gnikat no fo wen ,sraen yoj si aedi htneetenuJ kcalB sA

— ,ypareht .ecnatsiser ,tsetorp rewop lacitilop fo regnol tsuj s’ti mrof ,noitarbelec gnimoceb dna a oN

ot gnicnelis noitan yoj si .ytitnedi yrotsih snedrag ,sroolf gniltnamsid ecnad gnizilanimirc mlab dna tsniaga a a morF ,IED kcalB atnaltA

— ot gnimmets nruter .rewop wen skram ni yadiloh morf modeerf ecreif deyaled yaled tnorfnoc seitinummoc hsalkcab a a s’pmurT ,yadoT ehT tnediserP dlanoD kcalB .5681

— — — .amuart taht stneduts ecneiliser gniyllar seillar laitnediserp decitcarp ton yoj ni ytitnedi gnilaeh deidobme deohce dednamed denifed yrc ,ytivitaerc sehcruhc ,sesupmac .ngiapmac ngiapmac yb emaceb eb srohtua sa ,stsitra dna dna dna dna ssorca a alamaK tI ’sirraH kcalB kcalB 4202

ExploreNature Gurlz: Black women in their 50s to 80s finding friendship on trails
Former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at her campaign rally at the Atlanta Civic Center on Nov. 2, 2024. Black joy — practiced and embodied — became a rallying cry in Harris' presidential campaign.  (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at her campaign rally at the Atlanta Civic Center on Nov. 2, 2024. Black joy — practiced and embodied — became a rallying cry in Harris' presidential campaign. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

”kcalB“ drow .dehsawetihw rednu ot eht eht .secaps emos ecnis .egeis sthgir nruter no si ni evah .detalacse stroffe ytisrevid etaroproc laisrevortnoc .dennab skcatta era era dna cimedaca etihW gnitoV s’pmurT ,esuoH nevE alucirruC tuB skooB

siht yoj .sevlove ,etamilc nI

— ypareht ,ssenllits ,seirautcnas .snoitamalcer teiuq cilbup tnemevom ni ni ni ni breh snedrag snoitaralced ecnad ,krowhtaerb semoceb draykcab dna dna dna dna tI

nI“ er’ew su su tnegru rehtegot ot ot ot emit ereht eht eht eht roines cimsies dias hsup rotsap ruo fo reven erom tsdim ni ”,yrotsih sah rof ,gnicaf esare stroffe edivid etarebiled emoc soahc neeb kcab ta dna tsniaga a ,revilO .L htebazilE giarC hcruhC tsitpaB .atnaltA

Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. addressed the congregation during the ceremonies commemorating his 30th pastoral anniversary at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. addressed the congregation during the ceremonies commemorating his 30th pastoral anniversary at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

dengis selur delaeper .smargorp fo wen ,retal sih rof laredef laredef .desare gnitanimile .dessimsid .srotcartnoc .desolc lla evitamriffa ,noitartsinimda noitca pmurT ffatS redrO redrO enO nO seciffO noisulcnI evitucexE evitucexE syaD yaD IED 37141 ,15141

erew .tfiws elppir stceffe ehT

erew .setisbew dehsinav .seitisrevinu dednepsus stneduts emos ekil egaugnal desab-ytitnedi noitaudarg morf rof noitareneg-tsrif laredef snoitaromemmoc egelloc seinomerec delecnac ta dna dna ehT nogatneP htnoM +QTBGL .htneetenuJ yrotsiH IED ,kcalB kcalB ytiniffA

At the beginning of the school year, Cobb County Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced the removal of 13 books from school libraries, following a national trend. (AJC File)

Credit: AJC

At the beginning of the school year, Cobb County Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced the removal of 13 books from school libraries, following a national trend. (AJC File)

— — .naretev rednu ot ot eht eht eht eht trats nials spihs pihs sthgir sthgir :weiver denruter emaner stsop snalp fo fo seman deman yratilim noci gnironoh seoreh yag rof livic sa decnuonna dna dna a SNSU ,nambuT doogruhT edirP yvaN yvaN htnoM ,kliM ragdeM llahsraM ecitsuJ yevraH teirraH .srevE tnemtrapeD etaredefnoC tA oslA

er’yehT“ tcejorP“ gninrut eht eht .dias deyalp segap ”.ylsuolucitem si yb ”,koob gnieb revilO 5202

renniw ohw eulav eht eht emit-neves fo deton htnom yoj ni ni ,noitcele deid dna retfa .sserdda a a teoP ikkiN PCAAN egamI ,innavoiG drawA ,4202 7102

m’I“ m’I“ uoy etorw gnikrow ”,lliw ohw ew yaw yrev yrev ot hguorht s’taht taht dias duorp duorp ruo efil .yoj yoj yoj si ,ereh tog rof ylevisnetxe ”.od esuaceb esuaceb era lla tuoba ,innavoiG kcalB kcalB kcalB

ExploreBattle over unsealing King files ignites fears of tarnishing legacy
A parishioner reacts as he sings along with the choir during the 30th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

A parishioner reacts as he sings along with the choir during the 30th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

raey taht esimorp reh .eligarf sleef ,htaed retfa a tuB

sihT“ ”,amuart .dias ylno swonk yrtnuoc s’atteiraM egroeG

ycagel s’htneetenuJ

sraey owt ot yeht eht eht taht naht devalsne-llits elpoep erom mrofni ni dah .deerf neeb devirra retfa noinU ,saxeT ,noitamalcorP nO rojaM enuJ regnarG nodroG lareneG ,notsevlaG noitapicnamE ,91 ,5681

— htiw detoor .ecnatsiser ecnatsiser ,ecnarbmemer ,reyarp cisum gnikram lufyoj ni deerf ,doof slavitsef noitacude nageb dna dna snaxeT htneetenuJ yB kcalB ,6681

Sonequa Farley practices dance steps at Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing class at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. Her T-shirt directly addresses the importance of Juneteenth to the Black community. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
Sonequa Farley practices dance steps at Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing class at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. Her T-shirt directly addresses the importance of Juneteenth to the Black community. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

ohw etihw saw noitidart hguorht eht eht eht daerps ecilop .reciffo fo redrum nam dellik dnuorg deniag dedolpxe gnirud yb dna niaga retfa a a ehT sthgiR tnemevoM ,noitargiM taerG egroeG ,dyolF liviC kcalB 0202

— sraey eht ecnis dengis ylraen gnikam noitalsigel yadiloh tsrif laredef .reilrae a tnediserP nitraM rehtuL gniK htneetenuJ .rJ eoJ nI yaD nediB 04 ,1202

President Joe Biden, third from left, talks to Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., after signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in the East Room of the White House on June 17, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Oliver Contreras/Pool/Abaca Press/TNS)

Credit: TNS

President Joe Biden, third from left, talks to Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., after signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in the East Room of the White House on June 17, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Oliver Contreras/Pool/Abaca Press/TNS)

htneetenuJ“ ot eht eht noitagujbus yrevals .dias esimorp fo fo thgin gninrom skram ,gnol drah retaerg ”,emoc htob dna dna a nediB

— yaw rednu ot taerht taht esimorp lufrewop ecno peek yoj ti si sah emoceb dna .evila niaga a ,yadoT kcalB

yadnuS tsocetneP

.etihw saw saw saw eht eht eht ,nosaes no fo fo ylraen gninrom ni ni lanif enoyreve .cirtcele desserd syad yad erofeb dna ,yadnuS tsewhtuoS tsocetneP ,htneetenuJ enuJ tI htebazilE nevelE retsaE hcruhC tsitpaB atnaltA ,8

— — saw saw .gnihcaerp larotsap rotsap cisum dnegel lepsog ,yrasrevinna dna dna osla .S luaP rotsaP s’revilO notroM tI pohsiB ht03

Parishioners sing along with the choir during the 30th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Parishioners sing along with the choir during the 30th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

— — htiw eht eht eht derrits ,luos sklis dehcaer ,tiplup loohcs‑dlo ,snenil otni ni ,lepsog knuf hserf yznerf .rovref desserd noitagergnoc riohc gnidnelb dna dna a latsocetneP notroM snadroJ erofeB riA

eW“ tahT“ ew ew ot siht eht eht taht llits terces dias tneiliser ”,esiarp .elpoep .retal ”.yoj si evig dnif ,ecaf segnellahc yrotarbelec yticapac dniheb era lla a revilO doG dimA

llems“ nepo“ teL“ htiw etihw gninoitisnart ot neht eht eht eht eht taht ,tius gnos prahs ”,niar dehcaerp sdaelp fo setunim .trecnoc-inim dehcnual otni otni ni fi sih ”.nevaeh rof setagdoolf enivid dluoc noitagergnoc cissalc sgnisselb erofeb deksa tuoba a a a ”,niaR ,notroM droL tI eH 04

Bishop Paul Morton was the special guest preacher during the 30th pastoral anniversary celebration of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Bishop Paul Morton was the special guest preacher during the 30th pastoral anniversary celebration of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

.drow deklaw ot eht gnas elpoep tsael nioj drawrof evif yreve .decnad .deirc .hcruhc emoS srehtO ynaM tA rebmem-000,31

sraey ohw eht eht cimetsys ,yrevals noitagerges detcelfer elpoep .noisserppo no fo fo gninaem yoj evah rof ,tsaef derudne repeed ta dna tsocetneP notroM ,retaL kcalB 004

yoJ“ I“ uoy yhw hcihw seirt ot eht eht eht eht eht taht sffirat ekat ekat ”.htgnerts gnihtemos .dias dias ro no fo ton ym ym ym dnim gnittel gnipeek .yoj yoj ”,ti si si si .evah attog lived ma pmurT tahT notroM ,droL droL m’I dlanoD

A parishioners sing along with the choir during the 30th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

A parishioners sing along with the choir during the 30th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Craig Oliver Sr. at Elizabeth Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

yoj deludehcS

efil-krow“ eht ehs seludehcs seludehcs demarfer tsicilbup .evitarran latnem .sgniteem ekil yoj reh reh htlaeh sah ”ecnalab dna ,etacovda a ehS ,egroeG

tahT��� kroW“ .eerht taht gniludehcs .dias ,elpoep ym snaem .artnam ”.yoj .drah .drah ”,drah rof od denilpicsid emaceb lla tseR yalP I egroeG dnA

Lisa Yolanda George said she schedules her joy like she schedules her meetings. Her schedule is packed with kayaking, racewalking, fencing, hiking, scuba diving, horseback riding, open water swimming, soap making, rock climbing and even double dutch. (Courtesy of Lisa Yolanda George)

Credit: Lisa Yolanda George

Lisa Yolanda George said she schedules her joy like she schedules her meetings. Her schedule is packed with kayaking, racewalking, fencing, hiking, scuba diving, horseback riding, open water swimming, soap making, rock climbing and even double dutch. (Courtesy of Lisa Yolanda George)

— htiw hguorht .yoj si dellif radnelac rebotcO reH

eW“ m’I“ ’yoJeludehcS#‘ — raey ot neht eht eludehcs emas .dias ”?gnitaeper yllaer revo revo ro eno fo ton ton ym sgniteem tnaem gnivil evil tsuj ?yoj si ”,sgathsah ,od .sllac dna dna ma .niaga yllautca yhW fI I I egroeG

yoj gnitavitluC

— — .agoy htiw ,selbategev gnivirht eht .nus snoitats yrautcnas noitagaporp srotanillop fo fo fo rehtom si emoh ,sbreh rehtomdnarg ruof ,srewolf evif sesicrexe hcae yad gnihtaerb htaeneb snigeb dna dna dna na yolFaL nI reH aigroeG cinedE ,rutaceD

htiw smeet .efil nedrag ecnargarf ,roloc dna s’yolFaL

gazgiz drawot hguorht elprup redneval trad .sdralloc .smoolb ,lisab dna ,snasuS sdribgnimmuH deye-kcalB seeB

Coffee in hand, Cortney LaFloy studies her home garden in Decatur on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
Coffee in hand, Cortney LaFloy studies her home garden in Decatur on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

elihw ,keew snolemretaw .dehsinav ,seotamot nus neddus mrots smets dellor .ni reh evah .reippah gnizilitref gnittuc t’ndluoc thgirb neeb dna dna a ehT tsaL yolFaL

tI“ gnitavitluC“ — ohw ew yrev ot semit eht gnihtemos gnihtemos gnihtemos kees dias ecnatsiser lufesoprup tuo fo sdeen tsael yoj si si lanoitnetni ni nedrag evif yreve gniod ”.yad .yad eb ta dna na tca ”,tuoba a ,yolFaL m’I

.amuart hguorht ytiralc emac reH

Cortney LaFloy poses for a photo in her home garden in Decatur on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
Cortney LaFloy poses for a photo in her home garden in Decatur on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

sraey htiw elihw sugav decart ot eht eht eht .sserts ,teerts rotaluger loop .tuo fo fo ,evren .waj ni ni reh wef llef llaf ecaf nwod gninid despalloc nekorb s’ydob ,doolb ,oga a a ehS yolFaL srotcoD A

tnedicni .gnihtyreve degnahc ehT

… I“ I“ agoy spohskrow ohw sugav ot ot ot emit eht eht ”,taht taht sehcaet ecaps sevres dias :noitazilaer tuo tuo no won ton evren ,noitatidem kool ekil sdael tsuj ereh evah evah lufetarg gniog nedrag neve aluod emoc emac ”.eb .ta sa dna dna dna dna ma .noitavitca a a tahT ,yolFaL m’I I I

Cortney LaFloy tends to her plants in her home garden in Decatur on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
Cortney LaFloy tends to her plants in her home garden in Decatur on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

htiw .emit eht eht s’ehs tas ,demialcer niar deruop hcrop tuo eno eno no fo efil reh reh gnizag nedrag ,nwod puc ,eeffoc htaerb moolb ta ta ta dna dna a a yolFaL sA

— lativ ehs ,syas ecitcarp fo fo .noitarebil ,yoj si lanoitnetni yadiloh yllaicepse gnirud deyaled nrob a ehT htneetenuJ

erehW“ snaf med ”?ta

”ynoT“ htiw .htmraw eht lrig-retsis moor fo yratilim sdael ni lluf sucof srecnad dna a sdooW swehttaM ,notelbaM slriG bulC syoB tA .W.A ;pma&

s’nairdA“ elihw keew eerht sehcaet ehs gnisiar sthgin gniganam boj emit-lluf .ylimaf dna a a a hguorhT luoS eniL noitoM-N-teeF ”,gnicnaD

Adrian P. Woods takes a selfie with her students at the end of Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing, her weekly line dancing class at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
Adrian P. Woods takes a selfie with her students at the end of Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing, her weekly line dancing class at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

.sraey ot ot meht eht taht naht gnihcaet pils ehs ,senituor eno fo fo erom enil wonk otni devorpmi reh htlaeh rof pord citebaid gnicnad stiderc smialc nac gnitsaob .taeb ta sa yna a a epyT ehS ehS 005 2 01

ot gniht eht eno enil tseretni esaercni ni gnihtyreve .gnicnad degnahc tuB

erehW“ stooB“ — — tnew .lariv ot eht eht dekraps tes no snaf nosaes-noitcele med llac yb ”?ta mehtna dna a ”,dnuorG ,hserF308 4202

denioj .ni neve dna niboR ,streboR ,amabO ellehciM alamaK sirraH écnoyeB

Petra Robinson holds her fan while practicing steps at Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing class at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: NATRICE MILLER

Petra Robinson holds her fan while practicing steps at Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing class at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

— ot ot eht eht naht revo erom nrael morf tnemllorne ,noitcele regae delbuod .ecnad ssalc tuoba ’sdooW ecniS 04 ,001

htiw eht eht tnecer deslup thgin .tnemevom myg roolf eritne ta a nO slriG ,bulC syoB ;pma&

.nemow erew erew ot rieht naht .eno devom etal ,srecnad sa lla dega ylraeN tsoM eroM .kcalB ,s07 6 05

Participants in Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing class practice steps at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
Participants in Adrian’s Feet-N-Motion Soul Line Dancing class practice steps at A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

— gniraew suoirav meht .selyts trops strihs fo ton latnem .yoj ni htlaeh neerg rof rof rof ,esicrexe ecnad ssalc ,dna ,lla evoba esohT strihs-T demeht-htneetenuJ llA

s’tI“ I“ — ew ruoh-owt ”.ylemit siht eht hcaet .dias lacitilop tcefrep fo cisum .tnemevom egairram s’ti s’ti ni nuf ”,ecnad ,ecnad ,ecnad ,etamilc ,sessalc ,yhctac dna dna dna sdooW s’tI

About the Author

Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd.