Black Boy Joy

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

Eleven-year-old Fortitude “Fort” Jones is attending the funeral of his mother’s close friend, Aunt Netta. Aunt Netta understood Fort in a way others did not; she was kind to him when he struggled to sit still in church and would let him help her in the church kitchen. Overwhelmed by his sadness and the sadness around him, Fort dashes from the church in tears. Not watching where he is going, he crashes into a man who seemingly appears out of nowhere, pushing a wheelbarrow full of items, some of which fall out.

The elderly, kind man introduces himself as Gary the Griot. Fort looks at the fallen items and sees a massive jar with a crack on the bottom. Gary the Griot becomes distraught when he sees that it is broken and that everything inside it is gone. Fort apologizes, and the man forgives him, but when Fort’s mother sees what is going on, she reacts with anger. She tells Fort that he will have to help the man to mend his mistake, and Gary the Griot suggests that Fort come with him to refill the jar. He gives Fort a bubble blower and a butterfly net.