Black Joy and Kwanzaa with Dr. Chris Omni

"A lot of people don't stop to think about the historical trauma that black people face or could possibly be retriggered by going into these Nature's faces and seeing the trees and seeing the moss hanging from the trees to be transported to the conversations of lynching."--Chris Omni"Happiness happens to you. Joy happens within you. So it is very possible to hold both joy and pain in the same body at the same time."--Chris Omni🌿🌻 Let's talk about the POWER of BLACK JOY! 🌻🌿Amanda Aminata recently had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Chris Omni, the "health hippie" and black joy scholar, on the Mother Tree Network. Their conversation was nothing short of INSPIRING! 🙌Dr. Omni spoke about turning 49 and how this milestone is aligned with awareness and spiritual connection. She reminded us that "your vibe attracts your tribe!” 🌀✨But wait, there's more! She distinguished between happiness and joy, emphasizing that joy is collective. Joy happens within you but is also shared among your tribe—B L A C K joy. 🖤The conversation delved deep into the collective nature of black joy, supporting the strong black woman phenomena. Dr. Omni highlighted the ability to carry joy and pain simultaneously. The strength in that duality is truly remarkable! 💪When asked about cultivating joy from within, Dr. Omni alluded to taking one day at a time.  🌟Then the conversation took a pivot, shedding light on the deficit narrative perpetuated in public health research about the black community. Shocking stats were shared—higher likelihood of certain illnesses among black women compared to their white counterparts. 😞BUT, Dr. Chris Omni...Drumroll please...proposed a way to SHIFT the narrative! 🥁She conducted a study on black joy in green spaces, using arts-based research methods. And guess what? The healing power of nature was profound! 🌿From there, the discussion bloomed into cultivating gratitude and joy over time, nurturing it like a garden. 🌻Amanda Aminata added a beautiful note about the importance of slowing down and connecting with nature, connecting to Dr. Omni's love for turtles and his research on black joy in green spaces. 🐢🍃Dr. Omni chose to focus on Black Joy in her research to counteract the deficit narrative often associated with the black community in public health, aiming to address health disparities. 🙏Finally, they delve into the intersection of Kwanzaa values and their influence on the concept of black joy. Dr. Omni shares her “Kojima Theory” of collective self-motivation, which incorporates the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), and Kuumba (creativity). As they discuss the importance of pleasure and joy in one's work, we also celebrate Dr. Omni's groundbreaking achievement of co-creating the first-ever journal dedicated exclusively to black joy. Their conversation serves as a powerful testament to the significance of reframing narratives and the impact of joy-centered research.This conversation truly celebrated the beauty of black joy and left us feeling INSPIRED to nurture our joy, one day at a time –far and wide! 🖤✨📚 Timestamped overview00:00 Welcoming message to Mother Tree Network with guest Dr. Chris Omni, focusing on cultivating Black joy.04:04 Distinguishing joy from happiness, especially black joy.08:12 Finding joy in memories as a way to navigate life's changes.11:51 The speaker values turtles for their reminder to slow down and enjoy the journey.17:02 Challenging experiences as a black woman in public health, finding joy amidst statistics.20:39 Setting limits on photo selection for interviews in nature to protect participants from potential trauma.22:02 A woman finds inspiration in nature and water, leading to a webSupport the showMother tree Network Podcast--Where  Earth Wisdom Meets Racial Justice and Women's Leadership. Want to become your unlimited self and evolve the planet?Go here to get the Mother Tree podcast + Show Notes sent to your inboxhttps://www.dramandakemp.com/podcast