By Phebe Jewell Mama won’t let us leave the house, and MJ is furious. After dinner we form a line at the kitchen sink, Mama on one end, up to her elbows in dishwater, MJ in the middle, rinsing each bowl and plate. I wait at the other end of the line, ready with a [...]
(AKA “It’s Gotta Be The Shoes…”) By Hakim Bellamy George Floyd. The latest in a long noose of names to die in the street. At the hands and feet of police. Public asphyxiation is nothing new, but it has always drawn a crowd even on Sundays down South. However, he still couldn’t get a [...]
Writers Resist is honored to share some of the many and diverse creative writings recently inspired by Black Lives Matter, systemic racism, police brutality, U.S. protests, and the gorgeous, global chorus demanding equity and equality for all. This issue includes works by Kitty Anarchy, Despy Boutris, Schyler Butler, Marcy Rae Henry, Dana Kinsey, Christa Miller, Aaron [...]
By Marcy Rae Henry Black like me said John Howard Griffin and the world listened (Black like losing electricity) Black like me said Rachel Dolezal and the world blistered (Black like the plague) Black lives matter (now) say my neighbors (Black like squares on a checkerboard) Black is beautiful said Bill Allen (maybe) and the [...]
By Rebecca Tolin Less than nine minutes is how long it took to snuff the life out of a man a white officer with his knee on the neck of a black man in Minneapolis. Necks are not meant for kneeling mister officer. Necks are meant for breathing turning linking head to the heart. Before [...]
By Sarah Sheppeck A Car break-ins were frequent in the city. Insurance only covered the damage if I produced a police report, so when I left work to find another window smashed, I simply left for the precinct. It was already dark. Trying to avoid traffic, I stayed on side roads and in residential neighborhoods. [...]
By Jennifer Shneiderman after Walt Whitman O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip has just begun. Exit the door of no return – grim vessel of horror, the treasure chest, black gold, first wealth and power – America cannot go back. But O heart! heart! heart! the bleeding does not stop. Black men struck down [...]
By Kitty Anarchy you can't even say a problem without someone having a better story than yours suddenly they're the ones telling theirs yours out the door it's the oppression Olympics out here but those doing the oppressing aren't even playing with us down here they watching us fight over crumbs from up in the [...]
By Dana Kinsey There was in Georgia a humble young man, jovial and curious, who came upon two others who knew the law and the prophets. Confined and detained, this man had no recourse but to run. Hunted, he must have cried out to implore neighbors for help, and sought shelter from bullets he knew [...]
By Schyler Butler Share the photo of Keisha with tire marks cascading her back. Remember the protest last night, the hungry eyes. Ask the masses where were you. Ask them taste blood in exchange for God. After the ashes settle on the campus rooftops and the downtown glass is swept, pay for Speedway Marlboro’s. Listen to birds chirp [...]
By Christa Miller After ten days of scavenging around the houses in our subdivision, I know it’s unsustainable. Zoe and I had started with the houses next door, then worked our way down the street, but we were walking farther and farther for less and less. I decide to head for Myrtle Beach, but Zoe [...]
By Aaron Sandberg they emerge— suddenly and briefly in large numbers— symbols of immortality—prominent eyes— active during the day with some calling at dawn or dusk— modes of locomotion—walking and flight— take to the wing to travel distances— the structure is buckled by muscular action— removing dirt in the process— sometimes cause damage— blunt spikes— [...]
By Despy Boutris for Brittny which tells you something about the state of this country. This morning, I open Instagram and see Céline lying through its teeth. I’d love to write about planting flowers on my forearms, or my best friend’s collection of wool coats, but the police pulled guns on her husband standing in [...]
By Ron L. Dowell You're on Compton City Hall’s council chambers steps, a fist-sized Black Lives Matter button pinned conspicuously on your t-shirt, your belly distending and nearly blocking out Congresswoman Imelda Herrera and obscenely stretching Elizabeth Eckford's 1957 photo that’s on your tee. Elizabeth’s lovely brown face is downcast, looking cautiously through dark sunglasses, [...]
By Joel Fisher The black pain explodes Where he dropped Disintegrating to flowers And in that moment Shot and shot and shown The heavy-gauged Is a mourning of Its blue-grey trigger The reality that On this pavement Stained just as red We hold, self-evident Black Lives Matter Joel Fisher is currently an undergraduate reading [...]
