Black girl joy in the media: an intergenerational perspective

As Black women critical cultural scholars, we reflect on our motivations for engaging with media. Our intentions are different but our passions are the same as we recognize the value and necessity of the media and the need for positive representation. Toward that end, we use intersectionality as a lens to draw particular attention to the affirming depictions in television that celebrate Black womanhood and bring us Black girl joy from an intergenerational perspective. We have each chosen the shows The First Wives Club (2019–present) and Harlem (2021–) to illustrate these points and the continued significance of Black sisterhood. We celebrate the past, present, and future Black women storytellers who choose their cultural, financial, and social capital to amplify our voices in ways that others cannot and will not. Through this work, we remain hopeful and excited about the stories that are yet to come as they hold a reservoir of Black joy and hope in which we will forever indulge.