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On the invitation, participants were asked to bring “a poster, a costume, a disguise, a noise and/or music maker, and a bag lunch.” The event was Our Day Out in 1981, the first “march & celebration” for LGBTQ+ rights in Durham. Everybody was welcome, and there was wheelchair access and signage for the hearing impaired. Our Day Out included a march, picnic, and a show. The invitation was bright, with smiling and laughter.
Showing up together is powerful. Our Day Out was an expression of joy and an opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community in Durham to connect. The feeling of joy is incredibly important to activism. Joy helps to celebrate the identity of a group experiencing discrimination, racism, and homophobia.
In Durham parades, festivals, art shows, dance, and music were a part of activism. Events and spaces where diverse communities enjoyed and welcomed time together created a sense of unity and powered wider movements forward.
The weight of the world is heavy. It affects the mind, body, and spirit. The structure of white supremacy tries to rob people of joy, so it can be an act of defiance to find and create joyful experiences together. Joy is key to freedom.
As you read, ask yourself:
How can joy strengthen a community?
Coming together is empowering. At the Black Christmas Parade, community leaders celebrated their unity against racial injustice in Durham. In East Durham, El Chino Latino was an important and regular gathering place for diverse groups, especially the LGBTQ+ community.
The presence and success of El Chino Latino is a part of a bigger push for LGBTQ+ rights in Durham. In the 1980s, LGBTQ+ activists used joyful, community centered events to increase their visibility and acceptance in the city.
Joy is more than a feeling of happiness. Joy is deeper. It doesn’t mean you don’t feel angry, sad, and hopeless. The parades and marches at Black Christmas, Our Day Out, and Pride were created in response to sad events. In the face of oppression and discrimination, Durhamites came together and showed their strength.
Joy is a choice to find and nurture good connections in your life. At El Chino Latino, dance, music, and food created beauty and grew relationships for people not welcomed in every space. These moments help us to see and feel the love around us that we need to be supported and resilient through difficult times.
After learning this story and reflecting on your own experiences, how would you answer this question:
How does joy strengthen a community?