Justis Lopez

Happyvism Justis Lopez

This picture book communicates the significance, necessity, and power of embraced joy in the face of a world riddled with trauma and oppression specifically as it relates to black and brown bodies. Additionally, this book embraces the beauty and need for black and brown boy joy and emphasizes the fact that maintaining happiness about who you are and what you think, say, and do in a world that consistently goes against the grain of your identity is a form of activism hence: HAPPYVISM. Within this book, the two central characters take readers on a lyrical and visual journey emphatically communicating their personal feelings of happiness as it applies to their authentic identity and purpose. Ultimately, the lyricism of these two main characters is woven throughout the book and becomes an anthem of pride, confidence, self-love, and happiness to the extent that joy becomes a form of activism itself.

Grade 2 and up