Black Joy

Dhael Monfiston
Black Joy, 2020
Photograph

“This image was captured days after the killing of George Floyd. My sister is in middle school, the age where she is starting to question some of the complexities of life. With these realizations of the world comes a lot of grief. I am proud of her in so many ways, but I realize that she also must learn to experience moments of joy during turbulent times. As Black people, we often forget to take care of our mental health. It is important that we teach our younger generations to keep on fighting but also remember to take time for themselves.” - Dhael Monfiston

Dhael Monfiston is a student at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in English Writing with minors in Theatre Arts and Portuguese. Dhael documents key moments in her life through photography and writing. Dhael is Mexican-Haitian and enjoys learning about other cultures.