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Mark your calendars for a heartwarming day full of overwhelming joy and community! Officially happening on February 26 in Downtown Oakland is the incredibly-cherished Black Joy Parade- the Oakland-based non-profit devoted to celebrating and uplifting the Black experience through a multitude of activities which also honors history, culture, and future.

Presented by Black Infant Health, this year signifies the can't-miss free and family-friendly event's 6th iteration, with it set to be even more grand than ever, as 2023's theme, "the category is- joy," fully embodies positivity, empowerment, inspiration, and bold outward expression of Black happiness, creativity, and voices.

See also: SF Bay Area Black-Owned Businesses To Know And Support

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“Historically, movement fuels movements," elucidates Black Joy Parade founder Elisha Greenwell. "Folks took to the streets, sang their hearts out, and danced in unison to create the change they hoped to see. The movement to normalize Black joy is no different." As both a longtime resident of Oakland also on the board of the Huey Newton Foundation, and as an SF Academy of Art University graduate serving to benefit marginalized communities, blossoming the Black Joy Parade comes from a very near and dear place to the local trailblazer.

Earning the AdColor Change Agent award in 2018 for her creation of the parade, her wholesome city-wide event has only garnered further national acclaim and ignited a growing number of participating fans each year. Persevering through Covid lockdowns, the resilience and unbeatable energy of the Black Joy Parade are true testaments to Oakland and the Bay Area's commitment to community and solidarity.

We had the amazing opportunity to chat with Elisha on her brilliant inspiration to establish the parade, its significance to Oakland's Black culture and future, and helpful ways allies can get involved and contribute to Black joy and progress.

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Hi Elisha! Firstly, what inspired you to create the Black Joy Parade?

The absence of large positive experiences just for us. There’s marches and protests. There’s competitions, and sadly, vigils. But rarely do we gather in mass just to celebrate us, all that we have been, are, and will continue to be.

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How has it been seeing the parade evolve over the last 6 years, especially through Covid and other contemporary hardships?

Affirming. We always knew we were a resilient community and the last few years proved that. But it also reminded us how delicate and precious life is and that we need to celebrate ourselves and each other while we’re still here, living, breathing, shining.

Black Joy Parade 2020 was just two weeks before lockdown, making it the last big event most people in the region got to experience. I remember March 14th, the first day we really went in to lockdown and being so incredibly grateful for the energy and love I was carrying with me from the weeks before. That love kept me going for months.

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What are some aspects that you love most about Oakland's/Bay Area's culture, history, and community?

It’s real and so long as you’re real, there’s a space for you here. The Bay isn’t a place for a specific type of person. Everybody’s here - dreamers, fighters, builders, hippies, hustlers, capitalist, bikers, skaters, dancers, racers, some of us are cute and fancy, some cool and collected, and some just real regular.

The Bay pushes you to find yourself, and embraces you to thrive in that authenticity. The opposite is also true though. It’s hard to be fake and happy here.

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What are your hopes for the parade's and the Bay Area's future?

I’d love for Black Joy Parade to be the anchor for a whole moment for Oakland. The home of Black Joy, a destination for the Black Joy experience, so that every year people come from all over to take part and bear witness to Black Joy Parade and the beautiful community we’re celebrating.

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Last, but definitely not least, what are everyday ways allies can get involved and contribute to Black solidarity, Black joy, and Black infant health in Oakland and beyond?

We couldn’t do this without the financial, energetic and moral support of allies. They can donate to the cause, ensuring this experience remains free for all. They can volunteer to help out, giving their time.

They can look around in their own lives and help remove things that stand in the way of our joy, working to break down systemic barriers effecting our community’s health, education, safety, and ultimately, our ability to thrive and find joy.

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Thank you for all of your thoughtful responses, Elisha, and we can't wait to see you at the parade this year!

You can view all of the Black Joy Parade's schedule, events, partnerships, and more on their website.

See also: Oakland's Inaugural Poet Laureate, Ayodele Nzinga, On Blackness, Existence, And The Creative Process