jenwhitejohnson.com
I was recently asked how I came to understand and appreciate my son's expressions of Autistic Joy. How is joy usually characterized? The absence of sadness? Unbridled gladness and glee? That is Knox, every. single. day. He emanates a spark and a joy that always reminds me that life is worth living, that waking up in the morning can and should have purpose. That taking the time to capture that radiance can be a light, showing how Knox interacts with happiness itself when surrounded by the heaviness of this world. For the past seven years I have used my camera to capture Knox's story as he chooses to tell it—through his interactions, his spinning, his soulfulness, and yes, his unbridled joy.
Photo © Jennifer White-Johnson [image: Smiling young Black boy, with arms raised and eyes closed, inside a cloud of rainbow-shimmery bubbles.] |
The depiction and representation of #AutisticJoy and especially #AutisticBlackJoy in media has been slim, often overshadowed by the same predominate white narratives. Autistic communities of color aren’t always given the consistent equitable freedom or space in media, printed or electronic. I spent time trying to find and connect to viable Autistic Community celebrating Autistic lives of color in my state, and didn’t find many. I realized I had to reclaim the narrative and begin sharing through my art making space for dialogue and engagement.
Photo © Jennifer White-Johnson [image: Photo of an ecstatic Black toddler boy chasing bubbles.] |
Not long ago I encountered a few people who tried to challenge the validity of Knox’s joy: I posted and shared a video for an Autistic dancer, friend and activist of color, and in the video Knox was shown spinning, stimming, and dancing during his birthday week. A few questioned how his joy can be seen as a form of self advocacy.
Why anyone would want to stifle an Autistic kid’s joy? The Autistic community immediately came to my rescue showing Autistic Joy at its finest!
Often the Neurodiverse community are excluded from artistic narratives and creative spaces, thus we gladly create our own, taking ownership of our stories and telling them how we choose to tell them. Unfiltered and honest. My role as a mom is to help my Autistic son embrace his playfulness, as I continue to embrace mine. As a black and brown mom I want to focus on the joy of my kid’s beautifully Autistic self. Amplifying that JOY is what can unite us, breaking the cycle of assimilation, breaking the cycle of unjust stigmas, and infusing the narrative of soul in the lives of Autistic kids and adults!
We instill in Knox that every unique aspect of who he is beautiful. Using joy and creativity to create the framework setting our own tone for Autism Acceptance. There is heart and soul in the journey that breaks through the stigma of highlighting #AutisticJoy in Black & Brown lives. It is up to artists and designers to use our tools to further the narrative of Autism Acceptance and its visibility in the lives of people of color! The conversation must continue, the path must be set, making space for those who choose to honor the beauty and the soul of Autistic Joy.