Junauda Petrus
A Minneapolis-based artist weaving Black queer love, cosmic wonder, and radical joy into novels, films, and performances that feel like liberation.
Born 1981 (age 45)·US author, filmmaker, performance artist, and pleasure activist·Birthday: July 9·Millennials
Biography
Junauda Petrus creates worlds where Black girls and queer youth are the heroes of their own magical, tender, and expansive stories. Rooted in the communities of Minneapolis, her work as a writer, filmmaker, and 'pleasure activist' is an act of cultural healing and celebration. Her debut young adult novel, 'The Stars and the Blackness Between Them,' blends astral poetry with a poignant love story between two Black teenage girls, earning critical praise for its lyrical voice and emotional depth. Petrus doesn't just work on the page; she co-creates immersive performances like 'Sweetness of Wild,' which explores Black wellness through aerial dance and narrative. Serving as a Poet Laureate for her city, she uses her platform to center marginalized voices, insisting that art is not just for reflection but for building a more loving and liberated future.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Junauda was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Junauda Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Junauda's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her debut novel 'The Stars and the Blackness Between Them' won a Coretta Scott King Honor Award.
- Served as a Poet Laureate for the city of Minneapolis.
- Co-wrote and co-directed 'The Sweetness of Wild,' an aerial dance theater project exploring Black wellness.
- Her writing has been featured in anthologies like 'The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 2: Black Girl Magic.'
Did You Know?
She is a founding member of the performance collective 'Mood Swings.'
Petrus is an avid gardener and incorporates themes of nature and growth into her work.
She created a viral web series called 'Canoeing with Junauda.'
“We write our own freedom songs with the lives we choose to live.”
