For the last week, Twitter has been overrun by hilarious jokes referencing Black people, superpowers and Dec. 21, a day scientists are calling "The Great Conjunction."
NASA explained that on the evening of December 21, the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn will come together to look like one star, an event that happens every few decades but is particularly special this year.
"What makes this year’s spectacle so rare, then? It’s been nearly 400 years since the planets passed this close to each other in the sky, and nearly 800 years since the alignment of Saturn and Jupiter occurred at night, as it will for 2020, allowing nearly everyone around the world to witness this 'great conjunction,'" NASA wrote.
But one Twitter user said the date is special for another reason, setting off a week of absolutely gut-busting jokes on Twitter.
On a Twitter thread about the coronavirus vaccine conspiracy theories, one woman floated the idea that Dec. 21 would feature Black people gaining special abilities.
As black people, genetically we are stronger and smarter than everyone else, we are more creative, on December 21 our Real DNA will be unlocked and majority will be able to do things that we thought were fiction. Learn who u are as a people ???????????? they wanna make us average
— ßß (@lottidot) December 5, 2020
Black folks on Twitter not only roasted the woman for her outlandish theory but turned it into a meme that spawned days of top-tier jokes.
December 21st is now and forever known as the Negro Solstice.
— william eyelash. (@willtbh) December 16, 2020
so i see some black people got their powers early https://t.co/KQf9nw893v
— Laye ⚢ (@JOL4YE) December 16, 2020
beyoncé at midnight on december 21st pic.twitter.com/T0ztQnftPo
— evan 🙂 (@beyonseh) December 15, 2020
Me using my powers to go back to 2006 to fight the stingray that took out Steve Irwin pic.twitter.com/UsStCFBBr5
— Chidden Nuddet (@Maraculousness) December 21, 2020
Me traveling back to 1955 with my superpowers to eat in a White’s Only diner. #December21st
pic.twitter.com/RFGoU4h3QM— Steve Jr. (@DwayneJay) December 21, 2020
Just fried chicken with my laser vision pic.twitter.com/PpDbtaUjkE
— maybe: jeremy????????✨ (@damnitjeremyyy) December 21, 2020
Air traffic control right now pic.twitter.com/UaUVjgdKrr
— Bragard (@brogawd_) December 21, 2020
Even Missy got in on the jokes.
#December21st ???????? pic.twitter.com/0u472oSOsd
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) December 21, 2020
IT’S ALREADY STARTED OMG!!! pic.twitter.com/vT3yXs0ZJy
— Ty ✨???????? (@Tyreeck_112) December 21, 2020
Black Twitter tomorrow… what time orientation start y’all? pic.twitter.com/XQ6lR0fgR5
— text BTAYLOR to 21000 (@btaylorbeauty_) December 20, 2020
Some were uncomfortable with how popular the joke got within many non-Black crowds.
How y’all know about December 21st https://t.co/wXOXseCJPZ
pic.twitter.com/utIUZrt5ix— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 20, 2020
And others debated whether they would use their powers for good or bad.
DECEMBER 21 LETS MF GO ???? pic.twitter.com/oKVtZoABiN
— Tiddy Jakes (@AmadiWrites) December 15, 2020
Me on December 21 demanding a billion dollars from the govt now that I’m a supervillain pic.twitter.com/Ac70FOvBGw
— khristmas key????????✨ (@keytothefuture_) December 14, 2020
All of black twitter putting they differences aside on the 21st ???????????? pic.twitter.com/SMJJxx916f
— Brill (@BrillCosby) December 18, 2020
the Kardashian/Jenners when they see Khloe the only one that can fly. pic.twitter.com/VYSGPWTiwQ
— ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????????????; (@misbeehvn_) December 21, 2020
There was a nonstop flow of jokes that continued throughout Dec. 21. The jokes were so good that people had to stop and thank "Black Twitter" for crowdsourcing some of the best comedy around.
Black Twitter after carrying this app’s comedy pic.twitter.com/NIHOvuqXXe
— RK (@SNGXVII) December 21, 2020
Black Twitter you are the flavour of this earth, and everything great in it, do you hear me.#negrosolstice
#21stDecember
pic.twitter.com/afQqSSRHqb— ✯ Iky ✯ (@IksLikeThatYo) December 21, 2020
Black Twitter is UNMATCHED. In a time of great misery, y’all brought us great joy. #December21st
pic.twitter.com/q7qcE8972U— Janelle (@jnelleiz) December 21, 2020
The fact that a SINGLE tweet prompted most of tonight’s content is just amazing
— K-Ci’s (ooh yeah) (@frodeci) December 21, 2020
There are hundreds of hilarious tweets that you can find by searching "Black Twitter" or "December 21" on Twitter, and Instagram has a bunch of great memes as well. Happy solstice!