We are pleased to announce the launch of Black Joy Archive, which explores how we find joy across the African diaspora. In this first season about gospel choirs, we touch on personal connection to the music that made us shout, praise and catch the Holy Ghost.
It’s hard to ignore the Black church’s role in American music. Many vocal legends — Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Little Richard to name a few — discovered their voices in the choir stands. Those sounds also birthed jazz, soul and R&B.
“We get that not everyone’s church experience was pleasant. Many of us faced the hellfire of judgment in our own sanctuaries, forcing us to nurture a spiritual connection within ourselves after leaving the church,” writes Starr Dunigan, Black Joy founder and reporter, in this week’s newsletter.
“We honor our readers who experienced that trauma and hold you in love. Real talk: those folks who tried to hold you down weren’t living the word of God like they thought they were.”
Over the next few weeks, episodes will feature Black Joy editor Minda Honey in conversation with members of the Black Joy team about the music that sustained them and their ancestors, revealing gems they uncovered while reporting, and the future of gospel.
The first episode features Black Joy reporter Danielle Buckingham, who share how gospel became songs of survival for herself and the other Black women in her church.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple, Megaphone or your favorite podcast app. Sign up for the Black Joy newsletter and read more stories on our website. You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok for more amazing content from producer MacKenzie River Foy and team.
Black Joy is part of Reckon, an award-winning national news organization that covers the people powering change, the challenges shaping our time, and what it means for all of us. Reckon is part of Advance Local and owned by Advance, owners of Conde’ Nast; and shareholders in Reddit, Warner Bros. Discovery and Charter Communications.
