Joy as an Act of Resistance: Finding Hope in Uncertain Times

In today’s polarized political climate, it can be challenging to find trustworthy news. Growing up in the United States as an immigrant and a child of immigrant parents, I often relied on public media stations like PBS and NPR. Without cable, programs like Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood provided not just entertainment, but also a sense of belonging and community.

Now, as an adult, I return to these public media spaces, seeking the clarity and humanity often missing in mainstream discourse. Recently, I discovered the phrase “Joy is Resistance,” which offers hope, especially for communities like Latinos, where the American Dream feels increasingly distant. This concept was beautifully explored in NPR’s Code Switch podcast episode “Joy Is Resistance” (Donnella et al.). It inspired me to create the “Joy Is Resistance” product line, aimed at spreading hope and reminding us that joy is a powerful form of resistance.

I believe in the First Amendment and peaceful protest, as emphasized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He stated, “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon” (King 168). His words echo the idea that meaningful change arises from love and moral courage, not hatred.

The Code Switch hosts discuss how joyful living amidst injustice is not ignorance but a defiance against despair, allowing us to honor our humanity and culture. For many immigrants, joy is both survival and rebellion—through dancing, sharing food, or laughing despite uncertainty. This joy asserts that dignity cannot be erased by political polarization or systemic inequity.

Finding joy in a hostile world is indeed an act of resistance, pushing back against fear and affirming that love and community endure, even in uncertain times.

Works Cited

Donnella, Leah, et al. “Joy Is Resistance.” Code Switch, NPR, 30 July 2025, 6:51 a.m. ET, www.npr.org/2025/07/30/joy-is-resistance. Podcast episode, 36 min.
King, Martin Luther King, Jr. Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Beacon Press, 1967.