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New Jersey English Journal

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine joy in English Language Arts (ELA) as a form of resistance. Drawing inspiration from the soulful tunes of Maze, particularly Frankie Beverly's compositions, the narrative delves into the duality of joy and pain as a recurring theme in black culture. Grounded in personal reflections on familial experiences, the exploration expands to encompass the transformative frameworks of influential educators and scholars: bell hooks, Gholdy Muhammad, and Cynthia Dillard. This paper examines how joy becomes a deliberate act of resistance against oppressive educational norms by analyzing their perspectives.

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