When they attempt to rob you of joy...
A vulnerable reflection on losing NSF grants for being “too Black,” and the resilience it takes to embrace durable, faith-filled joy as a strategy to endure oppression, rejection, and systemic barriers.
Today sucks.
My research teams just lost two NSF grants.
One was about diversifying the STEM field.
The other about using AI to detect signals of distress, trauma, and grief on social media.
The reason?
It’s too Black.
I'm sitting here with a mix of emotions.
I know I have a lot of privilege — full, endowed professor, funded by hard money — and still, I feel the rawness of having something ripped away.
It reminds me of childhood bullying...
But this time, the harm doesn’t just land on me.
It echoes across communities, students, researchers, and the futures we’re trying to build.
I'm not going to act like my Joy Plan isn't in flux today.
But here's what I do know:
I'm in Toronto with my amazing husband.
And even now — especially now — I am choosing to embrace joy in the middle of chaos.
Because without joy, I won’t get through this.
We won’t get through this.
I’m not talking about fleeting happiness.
I’m talking about a durable, heart-filled, ten-toes-down kind of joy.
The kind that feels like faith in action.
My Joy Plan is the frame that reminds me:
We will get through.
We always have.
We always will.
Oppression, hatred, chaos — they hurt because they try to block the promise of joy:
A joyful life
Joyful work
A joyful existence
So today, I'm standing with all of you who:
Lost the grant you prayed for
Lost the job you needed
Lost the joy you had been holding onto
I see you.
I’m with you.
And we will build again.
Insights for Joyful Living and Social Justice
Get a glimpse into my ongoing reflections, stories, and research as I explore the science of joy, the realities of racial justice, and how our digital world shapes both.
✨ Joy and Timely Connections ✨
I highlight joy as a practice that strengthens resilience and deepens human connection.
🔥 What Tries to Kill Joy… and How Joy Wins 🔥
I share how I use joy as a tool for survival and liberation, offering three ways to protect and strengthen it amid life’s challenges.
The Quiet Joy That Brings Us Home
A reflection on using joy as liberation and resilience when life brings negativity, with three intentional practices to protect and nurture joy.
Join the Movement
Take the next step—join the waitlist for my upcoming book or book me for your next event. Let’s build a future rooted in care and connection.
Stay Inspired, Stay Informed
Sign up to receive insights, research updates, and reflections on joyful living, digital healing, and social transformation.
