Finding Joy in the Revolution

The dancers twirled with colorful fabrics, stomping and clapping to the rhythm. A little girl, maybe 9 years old – the same age as my nephew – waved a huge Palestinian flag above her head as she danced. Then, hand in hand, they left the stage and danced into the audience. People of all ages, races, genders, and skill levels joined the line of performers as it wound around the room, growing larger and larger as each audience member joined in. Drums pounded, music blasted, people shouted. And danced. And smiled. And laughed. And held each other's hands tight. It was a truly beautiful display of joy.

The performers that night at the Arab American National Museum were Palestinian – some were Palestinian's born in American, some emigrated from Palestine. They came together from Dearborn, Detroit, and the Bay Area. Most, if not all, had friends or family in Palestine. They voiced fear for their loved ones, and honored their martyrs.

Despite this, or maybe because of it, they danced. Joy radiated off of them, and their joy lit up the audience. I was caught up in the beautiful moment, but reflected after, "how can these performers dance with so much joy while dealing with so much fear and pain and anger?" I asked a few people in my life this question, and they all replied with a similar message: joy is what keeps a movement going.

Examples of this can be seen in any long-standing movement. The greatest laughter I've heard has come from the people who face the most oppression. The best jokes come from people who have been in the trenches. Meals and protests and drinks around a kitchen table, places where most of the action is planned, are also the places that light up with joy.

Anger is important in a movement, because it fuels a fight for change. Sadness is important in a movement, because it strengthens relationships. But joy makes everything else bearable. Without joy, a movement can become toxic. Connections forged only on negative emotions are fragile. They must be tempered with joy and laughter for strength.