Black Public Joy: No Permit or Permission Required

by Jay Pitter

From one of North America’s most influential public space experts comes a powerful treatise celebrating Black people’s audacious, complex, and universally embraced public joy expressions.

How much safety, belonging and delight do you feel when you walk through a park? Hang out in a coffee shop? Ride the subway to work? Explore a new neighbourhood? Now, how much do you know about how history, urban planning, culture and even your personal upbringing impact those feelings, and overall access, to public joy? For well over a decade, Jay Pitter has been thinking about public space and the ways it can be designed to not only contribute to social equity but also inspire joy for everyone. Her award-winning work helping cities navigate complex issues such as reimagining Confederate monument sites, the creation of cultural districts and the adoption of gender-responsive street design compels her to “How can I ignite public joy?”

Pitter acknowledges egregious place-based violations faced by her community—historical and contemporary—while unapologetically bending the book’s narrative arc toward public joy. Declaring that Black public joy is so powerful that even the auction block could not extinguish it, Pitter guides the reader through an under-explored placemaking journey. In addition to unearthing historical rituals, the book builds on the current groundswell of Black-led initiatives highlighting hiking, dining, cycling, and frolicking punctuated by hashtags such as #BlackJoy and #BlackOutdoors. Pitter draws upon her practice expertise and research, delving more deeply to situate these moments and online conversations within the phenomenon that is Black public joy. 

Along the way, she introduces us to beloved colleagues creating public joy in their communities, and also reveals vulnerable personal stories as ground for the book’s narrative. Black Public Joy’s themes—our collective desire for safely taking up space, feeling belonging, and freeing ourselves from fears of judgement—are universal. Pitter’s work calls on all of us to become better stewards of each other’s public joy, as well as to claim our own.

Genres: Nonfiction

264 pages, Hardcover

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[LaQuisha Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I give this 10 out 5 stars!?! Amazing!! A book not focused on Black trauma but restoring Black joy! Black people are complete people, filled with beauty… this book is very impactful and encouraging and should be required reading for all. This book will be a household name for the culture and part of our own declared classics! So proud of the author for providing our world with this literary excellence! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Honestly, I finished The Narrative of Sojourner Truth right before this book. When I finished it, there was a heaviness in the world from recent (political) events. I told a friend I needed to read something lighter—admittedly, I love nonfiction and historical fiction. I saw “joy” on the cover and thought it would be a lighter read…

I love the book so much that I went online looking for more info (😂). I also was hoping the author might have the affirmations and meditations somewhere separately.

Another thing that resonated with me was the “gaze”!! 😮‍💨 The way the author wrote about that! Too powerful—and with the added affirmations? I was so overjoyed!

I just want to name that I planned to either listen to it again or buy a hard copy! The end where the author describes black joy in great detail, especially from the lens of our elders, empowered me so much I went to social media with some quotes!

Elated to be the first to review of this book on Goodreads! 🥳

[Shirleynature · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended for all place-makers wishing to be uplifted and emboldened by this wise and moving narrative -- in part a memoir for the author and also celebrating many others' successful community spaces. I hope many community activists and urban planners take this know-how to heart!
Much gratitude to Jay Pitter, publisher, and Libro.fm!!!

[Courtney Keenum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so very moved by this book! There were times I paused to reflect, times I got angry, times I felt icky, and times I wanted to debate a bit. I loved it. “Public space performance” is a new to me phrase, but it is definitely a concept we’ve all been familiar with at some point or another. I was fascinated to take the deep dive into it! This book is for people of all colors, genders, beliefs, etc. YOU should read it.

[Nadia L. Hohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, well-researched, relatable. I enjoyed listening to this book narrated in Jay’s voice.

[Natalie Odom Pough · Rating 5 out of 5]

What took me 20 years to figure out on my own through self-study and exploration is now in a book - Black Public Joy: No Permit or Permission Required by Jay Pitter.

Young people, preorder it. Request it at your local bookstore. You need this book.

For the others, as you prepare to step into your role as an elder, carry joy with you. Tell stories that hold laughter and light, and if you don’t yet have joy to share… go make some.

What brought me to tears was the care Jay Pitter took in unpacking the history of Mardi Gras. Years ago, my husband and I traveled to New Orleans to learn its history. Museums, meals in Tremé, and time spent far beyond the tourist routes. That trip sparked my deep love for NOLA culture. The people are the best part. I’ll never forget how lovingly they shared both the struggle and the wins in their stories.

The history and stories in this book are eye-opening, but more importantly, they all lead back to finding, protecting, and sharing Black public joy. We deserve it.

@jay_pitter I felt the love you are offering our community. Thank you!!

@librofm @penguinrandomhouse and @mcclellandstewart thank you for the ALC. My smile is bigger and my dance moves are more defined after reading this book. #drpoughbookshelf #poughreview #civilrights #culturalstudies #JanuaryPagesChallenge @the.storygraph

[Kay Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for anyone who dreams of joyful spaces.

Jay Pitter is a skilled storyteller, who beautifully focuses on the heart of her subjects. Thank you to everyone for gifting us their stories.

I keep re-writing what I want to say about how much I love this book. Trying to find something eloquent to write about how talented a placemaker Jay is, and I can't find words for the genuineness that permeates this book.

Reading this book tasted like the most delicious soup, gifted to you from a friend. A recipe shared through generations and delivered on a day you needed it most. Every spoonful is rich with flavour and your head swirls to think of everyone who has ever been cared for by an expertly gifted bowl of broth.

Read this book.

[Jessica Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Libro.fm for access to this audiobook. It was a bit jarring how much I resonated with this book. It gave insight into why I have felt so guarded moving in the world. It gave me validation and the ‘green light’ to live fully and freely. To show up authentically and unapologetically. Here is the book I didn’t know I needed. Loved it😊

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I have admit that even shortly after finishing this book, I do not remember enough to give it the review it deserves. I know that I read and consumed the material within the book but for some reason, my brain did not hold onto that material. I remember being impressed by the writing and wish that I could remember more of the details.

[Selina Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved hearing Jay read her words with perfect cadence and emphasis, and share her brilliance with us listeners. Greatly appreciate Jay’s perspectives on public space - she is an expert and acknowledges she continues to learn and expand her space practices/approaches. Jay is an excellent storyteller Sharing powerful stories, honouring people, Elders and their public joy.

[Isobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good! thinking lots about connections between these ideas and libraries as public spaces. I don’t read a lot of planning-related works, so can confirm that this is informative and readable even for non-experts!

[Shavohna G-Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very relatable and easy read. Jay Pitter does a great job blending personal experiences with field work and references without making the book feel overly academic. I also appreciated the reflection questions at the end.

[Kenya Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Surely if inter-generational traumas can exist, so can inter-generational joy." This was the perfect transition into Black History Month. *ALC from Libro.fm

[gianna n · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. This book opened up a new part of my brain. Thank you Jay Pitter

[Annika Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely insights into the way we inhabit space and the ways that black people need more opportunities to experience public joy.

I listened to the audiobook, and the pacing was quite clunky and awkward throughout. I was surprised to see that the author recorded it herself because the language seemed to feel unfamiliar and stilted. I think I would much rather enjoy reading this instead of listening.