A Year of Black Joy 52 Black Voices Share Their Life Passions

An uplifting and empowering illustrated anthology of joyful contributions from 52 contemporary Black voices, including chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley, scientist Dr. Raven the Science Maven, and award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.

Curated by award-winning author Jamia Wilson, A Year of Black Joy celebrates the joy, talent, and contributions of 52 Black people from around the world. By sharing the many layers and dimensions of Black life and contributions that exist outside of trauma, readers of all backgrounds will be empowered to share their joy too. Each contributor is an expert in their own field, and the book covers a multitude of topics, from astrology and astronomy to beekeeping and baking.

The collection includes an entry for every week of the year, and each contribution is tied to a particular season, event, or celebration. An illustrated, nonfiction component to each entry—such as a guide to healing plants or a tour of the night sky—lets readers dive further into the activity. Presented in a beautiful hardcover format and featuring stunning full-color illustrations from Jade Orlando, AYear of Black Joy is a book to be treasured for years to come.

Jamia Wilson is a feminist, activist, writer, and speaker based in New York City. Her work has appeared in numerous outlets, including the New York Times, the Today show, CNN, Elle, BBC, Rookie, Refinery29, Glamour, Teen Vogue, and the Washington Post. She is the author of This Book Is Feminist; Young, Gifted and Black; Step into Your Power; Big Ideas for Young Thinkers; and the ABC’s of AOC.
Jade Orlando was born on an army base in North Carolina and grew up in a tiny Michigan town. She received her BFA in illustration from SCAD Savannah and currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, greyhound, and four cats. She is the illustrator of Bedtime Stories: Beautiful Black Tales from the Past and co-illustrator of Hey You! Her clients include Scholastic, Carter’s, Amazon, and Oopsy Daisy.