Haderah Phillips: Love, Joy, and Power: The Road to Liberation and Lasting Change (Attending documentary film screening)

     Attending the film screening of Love, Joy, and Power:Tools for Liberation by Daresha Kyi on September 28th 2025, was both inspiring and eye-opening. The film shed light on the ongoing efforts of power-building organization that are dedicated to creating lasting change within Black communities. During the discussion before the film started, Daresha Kyi stated through more than 450 hours of film, they were able to create a wonderful documentary that captures a movement grounded in resilience, collective action, and belief that liberation is not a movement, but a continuous process. The film consists of Daresha Kyi and her camera crew documenting LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright, the co-founders of the "Black Voters Matter" organization during the 2020 election, as they travel by bus, stopping in at least 12 states across the South and Midwest. Aiming to increase Black voter registration. The bus tour is one of many initiatives that fall under Black Voters Matter major voter outreach initiative, "WE GOT THE POWER", which also includes radio ads, digital PSAs, virtual events, voter outreach caravans and speaking engagements. This highlights true freedom takes love, joy, and power, and the film reminded me that all three already exist within us, we just have to use them.

    One of the most impactful takeaways from the documentary was how community-based groups interact with students and local groups. By offering grants, voter registration support, and opportunities for civic engagement, they create real pathways for communities to build power from the ground up. The Black Voters Matter bus tour, often described as “the Blackest bus in America,” stood out as both a symbol and a call to action. It represents love for Blackness in all its forms, such as culture, history, and the persistent pursuit of justice. One quote from the film that really stuck with me was the reminder that “what’s happening now doesn’t have to be forever.” This message felt so hopeful, especially in the time when it was easy to feel discouraged about the state of our country. This message also reinforces that change is always possible, as long as we continue to act, organize, and uplift one another. The “Freedom Ride for Voting Rights” echoes the legacy of past civil rights movements while emphasizing that the fight for freedom is far from over.  The film's title, "Love, Joy, and Power" perfectly sums up what liberation really looks like. Love for ourselves, and our communities, joy in the process of coming together, and power in standing up for what we believe in. I also appreciated how the film  emphasized that voting is one way to build power, but it's not the only way. Every act of connection, education, and support helps strengthen the foundation of change. Ultimately, the documentary encouraged me to think more about my own role in making a difference. It showed me that even small actions, whether that's registering someone to vote, supporting a local cause, or simply spreading awareness can contribute to something much bigger. The film challenges us to reflect on our own role in shaping a more equitable future. We are reminded that freedom is not guaranteed, but can be built, day by day, vote by vote, and action by action. When we lead with love, encourage joy, and use our combined power.

-Haderah Phillips

Haderah Phillips