Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

“The world is harsh. Find your joy, Fortitude, and it’ll be your night-light when everything is dark.”

Black Boy Joy opens with an introductory story that wraps itself around the other stories and brings them together with a purpose. Before she died, Fort’s aunt Netta gave him this powerful advice, and it becomes especially relevant during this period of grief. Joy is metaphorically compared to a nightlight because it can act as a source of comfort and hope during difficult times.

“Why don’t you make up your own heroes?”

The end of Jim Crow laws did not mean the end of racism or oppression for Black people. In the mid-20th century, Black actors and characters became more common but were often just used as novelty roles for already-established, Eurocentric storylines. By creating their own stories, Black people can reclaim their heritage and celebrate their own cultures, rather than simply existing within Eurocentric cultures. Cornell learns that there is power and pride in creating his own superhero.

“As long as you two stick together, my memory will live on through you and I’ll never truly be gone.”

Jamal and his cousin Dre have drifted apart in recent years, which their grandfather Big Mac noticed before he died. He tasks them with working together to bring them closer again and remind them of the importance of The Pillars of Family and Friends. The collection promotes ideas of togetherness and solidarity in a world that tries to break people apart.