This year, the Met Gala had a theme rooted in Black joy and Black resistance: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” as symbolized by the Black dandy.
At first glance, it may not be obvious that a muse rooted in slavery and oppression could also serve as an uplifting statement. The Black dandy was originally an enslaved person within the African diaspora who was dressed and adorned in elegant fashions by their white slave owner during the 18th century. Initially, the Black dandy was an objectified and oppressed individual who served the sole purpose of being a display of wealth and prosperity for the white slave owner. However, over time, African American communities transformed the idea of the Black dandy into a symbol of Black joy and Black resistance.
Being dressed in elegant and intricate fashions with a unique and distinct flair gave Black dandies in the African American community a sense of pride. This was also a rebuttal to the idea that African Americans were not intelligent, refined, or evolved human beings. Through dressing in fine fashions, Black leaders such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Frederick Douglass (to name just a couple) made a political statement without saying a word. The statement being, “We are worthy. We have rights. We matter.”
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Celebrating this theme during 2025 is especially significant because Black history in the United States is being removed from certain libraries, historic institutions, and landmarks. The Met Gala’s decision to embrace this specific piece of Black culture is a lesson in how fashion and the arts can send a strong message without using words.
As a researcher who studies the science of happiness, I spend a lot of my time understanding how joy is embedded in our DNA as human beings. There’s a reason that our brains can manufacture dopamine. Joy is our birthright as humans. We need joy — not just to thrive, but also to survive difficult circumstances.
Throughout African American history, Black communities utilized joy through music, dance, film, and scholarly achievements in the face of remarkable adversity. Celebrating Black history and cultivating Black joy was our form of fighting back. Accessing joy using art and fashion is one of the many ways to ensure that communities of color overcome challenging times. This year’s Met Gala was not simply about a symbol of an objectified slave, it was a statement about how African Americans have used joy to transform oppression into resistance.
Dr. Judith Joseph, MD and MBA, is a psychiatrist, researcher, award-winning content creator, and author of the bestselling book High Functioning, Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy. Follow her on Instagram right here.
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