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meet the blogger
Hi! I’m Joy, a Louisiana-born, Nigerian-American writer who’s obsessed with literature, research, and the untold histories of Africa and the Black diaspora. The Braid Blog is where I weave it all together: memory, literature, culture, and the quiet power in our everyday lives. Think of this space as part archive, part altar–always an offering.
I’d love to connect! Feel free to visit my socials below or send me an email xo.
Author: Joy Chibuzo
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In Sweet Heat (2025), Bolu Babalola delivers romance with depth–intimate, messy, and impossible to ignore. Kiki Banjo thought she outran her past, but one reunion cracks everything open: love, pride, ambition, and the life she’s been carefully constructing. Consider this your invitation to read this spicy title responsibly.
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Step into Spike Lee’s Crooklyn through the eyes of a little Black girl carrying weight she never should’ve held. This reflection unbraids hyper-independence, misogynoir, and the quiet traumas we normalize in Black families—revealing how generational patterns shape our children long before we notice.
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Let’s rewind to the Muses—five sisters who sang Hercules into legend and now rise again in Farrah Rochon’s Bemused. This Greek mythology retelling fuses Disney nostalgia, Black girl magic, and divine sisterhood, reminding us that unity isn’t weakness. It’s the truest form of power.
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🇳🇬 As Nigeria celebrates 65 years of independence, I’m compelled to appreciate the culture that has shaped my life in countless ways. I decided to reflect on the traditions that make our culture so unique. For this milestone, I’ve chosen my top three favorite parts of being Nigerian. Dive in and celebrate with me!
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¡Vamos a bailar! Dive into the vibrant world of AfroLatinx music–from samba and rumba to salsa, merengue, mambo, cumbia, reggaeton, and Son Cubano. Discover how African, Spanish, and Indigenous traditions shaped each genre, fueling dance, storytelling, and rhythmic evolution that shaped Latin music history and continues to inspire dance floors worldwide.
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by exploring Esmeralda Santiago’s When I Was Puerto Rican. This powerful memoir traces girlhood, identity, and assimilation, following a first-generation Puerto Rican daughter navigating rural roots and Brooklyn life. A vital read for understanding Hispanic voices, culture, and resilience across generations.
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This Hispanic Heritage Month, discover the untold story of 2LT Esteban Hotesse—the only Dominican Tuskegee Airman. From Moca, DR to the Freeman Field Mutiny, his courage helped pave the way for desegregation in the U.S. military. His legacy shines light on Hispanic involvement in shaping history as we know it.
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by diving into Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X, a searing novel-in-verse that captures the Afro-Latinx experience with raw honesty. Xiomara’s voice shatters silence, reclaiming space for girls told they are too much and not enough—all at once. A must-read for identity, faith, and freedom.
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From Taíno roots to the Haitian Revolution, Hispaniola’s story is one of survival, rebellion, and resilience. This island birthed the world’s first free Black republic, endured brutal colonial debts, and shaped the fates of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Journey through its history this Hispanic Heritage Month.
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What if Princess Tiana’s dream came true—but at a devastating cost? Farrah Rochon’s Almost There: A Twisted Tale reimagines the story of Disney’s only Black princess, navigating magic, grief, and resilience through the misty streets of New Orleans. Step into this haunting retelling where Tiana’s choices blur the line between dreams and darkness.
