Writing is an act of resistance
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Ode to America, November 6, 2024
By Joanne Durham Oh America, I desperately wantto praise you, but even this poemhas begun wrong, like you beganwrong. How easily you claimedthe name of two continents,the lands of other peoples. Hereyou are, states untied, no beltof decency holding them together,all the rot of unentitled claimsshredding your fraying fabric. Lying in bed before dawn, I…
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Second Flags
Narrative nonfiction, homophobia, Annette L. Brown, hate crime, rainbow flag, Lauri Ann Carleton, Pride flagBy Annette L. Brown I was slicing tomatoes from the garden, their rich juice nearly overwhelming the grooves in the cutting board, when I heard the story of Lauri Ann Carleton’s murder. I stopped to make sure I heard correctly, my knife hovering mid cut. Yes, Lauri Ann Carleton, 66 years old, died August 18,…
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Identity Theft
Janan Golestané, sofreh, Persian poetry, Iranian diaspora, Woman Life Freedom movement, Islamic Republic of IranBy Janan Golestané My second-generation,Iranian-Canadianvoicespeaks without an accentin English. It’s been known to recountmy many fortunes as thedaughter of anIranian woman who chose to leave Iran.She, the only one of seven siblings to immigrate.Me, the only one of my maternal family born with basic rights and freedoms. My second-generation,Iranian-Canadianperspectivewas then that I gained immenselyfrom my…
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Ya-Ting (Iris)
By Ya-Ting Yu “Iris sounds like a grandma name,” Samuel said, frowning. His large rugby hands sank into his sweatpants when he saw my face. “You’re no fun. It’s just a joke. And, I mean, it’s true.” He stuck his tongue out and shrugged, the Fly Emirates logo stretching across his chest. His nonchalance made…
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The Sunday After
DEI, Narrative nonfiction, institutionalized racism, DW McKinney, James Weldon Johnson, Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, civil rights, Buffalo Soldiers, diversity equity and inclusionBy DW McKinney the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States, we gather in the church sanctuary and sing the Black national anthem. We mourn in unison. A week after the new president resumes his campaign of white (straight, male) supremacy, of “making America great,” of rolling back civil rights and liberties for…
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She, I, You, We: Every Woman
Fiction, misogyny, objectification, sexism, body positivity, MM Schreier, sexualiztion, social construction of beautyBy MM Schreier FIFTEEN She’s afraid her skirt’s too short, but gives it a little hip-swish, anyway. People are watching. If she owns it, maybe they won’t give her the side eye. Wishing she wore leggings, she considers tugging the skirt’s hem down, as if the sparse fabric could magically cover more of her legs,…
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The Social Contract
By Kelly Fordon I’ve been thinking about Irish wakes—what my aunt’s must have been like—19—killed by her drunk boyfriendwho slammed into a light pole.For years afterward, my grandfatherran into the boy around town.My grandparents believed he would pay—if not in this lifetime, in the next.But I heard it nearly drovemy grandfather mad to see his…
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You Can Tell by Looking at Her
By Susan Rukeyser Purity stood behind the counter at Wildfyre Drug, ready to assist Billionaires in possession of a valid pharmacy card and a signed Terms of Agreement, swearing that none of their purchases would be shared with members of the Worker class. Occasionally, customers recognized her from her beauty product testimonials, which ran on…
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Welcome to Writers Resist the Winter 2025 Issue
Whether you’re still in recovery or planning your resistance against the incoming regime, there’s plenty of common ground in this the Winter 2025 issue of Writers Resist. Enjoy the art, poetry and prose and then join us for our virtual Writers Resist Reads, Saturday 15 February 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific. Just email for the…