Category: Uncategorized

The Juneteenth celebration stands as a multifaceted symbol of liberation and delayed justice emanating from when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom in 1865 despite the earlier Emancipation Proclamation. Black gay writers experience Juneteenth as the convergence of multiple identities and histories which represent their continued resistance. The blending of racial freedom… Read more

Upon arrival at Accra, Ghana’s lively capital, I found myself instantly immersed in the warm hospitality typical of West Africa which came to characterize my experience in this extraordinary nation. The warm and spice-filled air prepared me for a memorable journey through the diversity of Ghana’s food, culture, history and natural beauty. During three weeks I journeyed… Read more

The 1991 debut novel ‘Invisible Life’ by E. Lynn Harris initiated a major shift in African American literature as it courageously examined previously unexplored intersections of race and sexuality within identity. The book follows Raymond Tyler Jr., a successful Black lawyer who manages his bisexuality while balancing traditional social norms against his true identity. Harris… Read more

As a leading innovator in contemporary American poetry Douglas Kearney creates pieces that challenge conventional norms of poetic form and language presentation. Through his work as a poet, performer, and librettist Kearney has established a complex poetry style that tackles critical social topics while exploring typography and visual sound elements. His poetry collections ‘The Black… Read more

Millennial authors have transformed the 21st-century literary world by providing new viewpoints and techniques while addressing pressing social matters in their work. The poetry of Major Jackson and Yolanda Wisher stands as an example of how millennial writers have transformed both literary traditions and cultural discussions. This article investigates how millennial authors have uniquely shaped… Read more

Afropunk began as a musical and cultural movement but transformed into a literary phenomenon that explores Black identity with a rebellious perspective. Afropunk in literary works emerges from combining punk ideals with Black cultural expression to powerfully transform standard stories about Blackness. The portrayal of Black experiences moves beyond monolithic representations as it adopts alternative aesthetic approaches… Read more

Afrofuturism represents a groundbreaking cultural and philosophical approach that blends African diaspora culture with technological advancements and themes from science fiction and future studies. Through literary Afrofuturism Black writers use this movement to reconstruct historical narratives, envision new possibilities for the future and confront established systems of authority. The term was introduced by cultural critic… Read more

The contemporary American poetry scene recognizes Jayne Cortez (1934-2012) as an influential and remarkable poetic voice. As a leading voice of the Black Arts Movement, Cortez established a poetic style that combined musical elements with strong political awareness and direct challenges to social inequities. Cortez’s poetry stems from her life as an African American woman… Read more

Breaking Barriers in Love – The Challenge of Authenticity for Transgender Women in Relationships What does it mean to love freely, without fear of judgment, violence, or bias? For many transgender women, the journey to find authentic love often feels like an obstacle, filled with societal judgments and dangerous stereotypes. In Arthur L. Jenkins’ The… Read more

The Black Arts Movement which developed during the 1960s and 1970s became a crucial era for African American culture and had substantial impacts on literature alongside music and art. The movement served as both artistic revival and political declaration that called for social reform and racial justice. The movement produced influential writers who utilized their… Read more