Hi Friends:
Because writer’s block is an individual philosophical truth, this issue includes:
A sip…
Regardless of era, the muse will contend that the DI Afro will never exceed Angela’s…
A shout out…
When the formative years include domestic terrorism thinly disguised as legally enforced racial division, it should not surprise that academic professor, activist, author, lecturer, and philosopher, Angela Y. Davis, is proof that defiant resistance yields influence.
Often labeled a communist, feminist, Marxist, militant, and/or socialist-leaning, due to open affiliation with controversial individuals, anti-racist, and other issues, perhaps she is best described as greatly influenced by having lived in a neighborhood marked by several residential bombings, and early exposure to communist organizers and thinkers.
Acclaimed, distinguished, and honored, she has argued against, opposed, and otherwise contributed toward efforts attacking various wars, exclusions of women, the death penalty, political violence, immigration fraud, xenophobia, and all other forms of human rights abuse imaginable.
The recipient of multiple honorary doctoral degrees, and the author of twelve titles, including Angela Davis: An Autobiography, she has been memorialized in fashion, documentaries/films, murals, plays, and songs, and is highly awarded despite being declared a controversial supporter of political violence.
Additional interesting facts about Angela Y. Davis:
Featured in a collection by the fashion brand, Prada (2018).
Generally credited with coining the phrase, ‘prison industrial complex.’
Credits the Girl Scouts of the United States with her political involvement.
Was the third woman to appear on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list (1970).
Has been a guest lecturer in all fifty states, Africa, the Caribbean, and the former Soviet Union.
Sibling of former defensive back, Ben Davis (Cleveland Browns, 1967 – 1973 & Detroit Lions, 1974 -1976).
Included on Time’s 100 Women of the Year list (1971) and Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World list (2020).
Daughter of, Sallye Bell Davis, former national officer/leading organizer of the Southern Negro Youth Congress.
A sentence…
Prompts gleaned from Angela Davis: An Autobiography:
“When white people are indiscriminately viewed as the enemy, it is virtually impossible to develop a political solution.”
“It hurt to see us folding in on ourselves, using ourselves as whipping posts because we did not yet know how to struggle against the real cause of our misery.”
“I'm part of a righteous people who anger slowly but rage undamned. We'll gather at his door in such a number that the rumbling of our feet will make the earth tremble.”
“I had always thought it was fortuitous that I was among those who had escaped the worst. One small twist of fate and I might have drowned in the muck of poverty and disease and illiteracy. That is why I never felt I had the right to look upon myself as being any different from my sisters and brothers who did all the suffering, for all of us.”
“For me revolution was never an interim “thing-to-do” before settling down; it was no fashionable club with newly minted jargon, or new kind of social life—made thrilling by risk and confrontation, made glamorous by costume. Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionary’s life. When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime.”
A few useful tips…
On writing autobiographically:
If it's autobiographical, you are the author.
It is important to reveal the truth, not your truth.
Make sure the anecdotes align with your personality.
Your timeline of events must align with important life events.
Honestly write about the relationships that have impacted your life.
If your story lacks intimate disclosure of your story, it’s not autobiographical.
Be mentally prepared to explore and write about challenges and obstacles you’ve faced.
A few contests/competitions…
The Bath Children’s Novel Award 2024
Black Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest
McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize
Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
A few grant/fellowship/scholarship opportunities…
The African Liberty Writing Fellowship
The Farrar, Straus and Giroux Writer’s Fellowship
Gotham's 2024 Publish a Book Scholarship
Horror Writers Association Dark Poetry Scholarship
Horror Writers Association Mary Shelley Scholarship
National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowships
A few freelance opportunities…
Bolts Magazine seeks freelancers to report on stories related to voting rights and criminal justice across the US.
GrooveVolt seeks standalone evergreen pieces that speak to music trends, culture, technology, etc.
Sixty x Black Lunch Table seeks reviews and essays on Midwestern Black artists.
Taypedia is accepting pitches.
Viator seeks to commission two personal essays for Latinx Heritage Month.
A few submission opportunities…
African Writer is open to all genres of literature from Africa and the African Diaspora.
Bookish Brews seeks non-fiction, craft, lifestyle essays, and book reviews from historically underrepresented groups.
FIYAH seeks submissions on the ‘Spacefaring Aunties’ theme.
Midnight & Indigo seeks short stories and narrative essays from black women writers.
Moko Magazine seeks short stories, poems, interviews, essays, book reviews, and other visual media about the Caribbean/Caribbean diaspora.
Raising Mothers seeks submissions that celebrate/center the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and Brown parents.
The Sun seeks personal essays, short stories, and poems by established and emerging writers.
A few sessions & workshops…
June 26th
Once the Men Find Out We Can Shapeshift: A Creative Writing Workshop
June 27th
Off the Beaten Path Creative Writing
Open Book Neurodivergent Creative Writing Group
June 28th
June 29th
June 30th
Non-Fiction Writers Workshop: Crafting Compelling Narratives
Novel & Story Writing Workshop
Screenwriting for Beginners: Crafting Film & TV Scripts
Travel Writers Workshop: Crafting Inspiring Travel Narratives
July 8th – August 5th
Ongoing
A few virtual book clubs…
And a final thought…
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Thanks for reading,
Thanks