Restoring resilience through joy: The pursuit of happiness in the midst of unprecedented times

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presented numerous threats to the Black community. These unprecedented times called for many individuals to extend beyond what once was the “norm” to make ends meet. It is not enough that Black people were dying at a disproportionate rate (Krieger, 2020); the virus further entrenched racism and destitution, with Black people four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white people due to inequalities in healthcare, education, and policy decision-making. Despite a pandemic that ravaged Black communities with brutal, life-threatening circumstances and months of protesting institutional injustices and extrajudicial police brutality, Black people still found joy in moments of unrest.

Keywords

black Coronavirus (COVID-19)joy racism systemic injustices

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