Black Boy Joy

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

Mikkel, his cousin Brandon, and their church congregation are at the fifth funeral this month. Each time a young person dies at the hands of gun violence, the community sinks further into despair. Brandon is a skilled rapper, and Mikkel often writes lyrics for him. The pastor enlists Brandon’s help in writing a song that will help lift up the congregation and remind them of joy. Brandon takes the task very seriously and nearly crumbles under the pressure. Mikkel offers to help but finds that neither he nor Brandon can find the right words to express what they want to say.

One day, Brandon and Mikkel find their mothers dancing and grooving to Earth, Wind, and Fire in the living room. The feeling of joy is emanating from their smiles and their moves, and Brandon soon joins in. Mikkel stands on the sidelines and enjoys the moment with his family. The experience inspires Brandon and Mikkel to write a song about the emotions they felt in that moment of pure elation with their loved ones and how music has the power to bring this out in people. When the song is finished, Mikkel imagines Brandon singing it and moving the entire congregation with the words that they wrote together.