Words were our glue - we were bonded through a series of reflections, testimonies, and explorations. Simultaneously cultivating joy while creating a space where we could grieve. Grieving the seemingly perennial state of loss magnified by our melanin. The laughter led us to see that even in our virtual cypher - we had common pet peeves, food faves, and shows. We wrote of our evolutions birthed from embarrassing moments, self-realization, trauma, and familial struggles. We reflected on what it means to live in a black body in 2021 after taking a deep dive into Richard Wright’s poem, “Between the World and Me”. This project is a beautiful collection of voices and experiences of young people who are sharing their words for us to marvel and affirm.