Gholdy Muhammad sees a pressing need for joy in school environments. She notes that teachers often tell her they feel overwhelmed and stressed, and the mental health of students is in serious decline. The pandemic intensified this need, and ongoing attacks on literature and humanizing curricula have added to the strain. All of these pressures, she says, make joy essential.

So she wrote a book: Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning. It celebrates the vital role of joy in education, particularly in challenging times.

Muhammad defines joy not simply as fun but as a serious, sustained effort worthy of focused attention. She roots her framework in Black ancestral traditions, traditions that encompass art, wellness, justice, advocacy, and community healing. She draws on historical lessons from these ancestors, including self-reflection, the importance of claiming joy despite adversity, and collectivism as a pathway to transformation.

Larry Ferlazzo, a high school English and social studies teacher of more than two decades, interviewed her for Education Week.

"I suggest making joy a learning goal, or pursuit, to be taught and assessed. Joy can infuse our relationship building with students, as we check in on their hearts and on their wellness. It emerges when we integrate more art, poetry, and music into our instruction and when we create learning experiences that encourage students to have fun and problem solve, with their voices (and perspectives) centered."

"Our Black ancestors claimed and reclaimed their joy. It did not matter that the world was cruel or unfair or unloving because they had each other. They centered their creativity, their arts, their music, their language, their abolition, their poetry, their love, and their collaborative efforts to make the world better. It’s a beautiful lesson for us today. No matter what, remember your joy. Remember what matters. Remember your light and all your north stars in life."

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Gholdy Muhammad Champions ‘Unearthing Joy’ in Her New Book

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