Merge Literary Magazine

MERGE-LIFE EXPERIECES THROUGH POETRY, SHORT STORIES AND ESSAYS.

MERGE-EXPRESSIONS OF LIFE THAT DEFINE US.

MERGE-OUR MULTITUDE OF EXPERIENCES AND OUR PASSIONATE PERSPECTIVES.

MISSION

Merge Literary Magazine is a vehicle for expression and dialogue between readers and writers, photographers and visual artists. A plethora of topics will be covered in this quarterly publication. Merge Literary Magazine publishes poetry, essays, articles and reviews by the global community of Black writers about issues that affect Black people in the US, Africa, the Caribbean and elsewhere.

This magazine features established, emerging and young writers, poets, spoken word artists and essayists, photographers and visual artists from all walks of life. We want your truths, experiences, your rants and raves, your secrets, your quiet thoughts, your celebratory shouts. We seek poetry about your experiences- Black experiences in the social, political, educational, religious, and family realms.

IN THIS ISSUE

This issue of Merge, Celebrating Black Women: Our Resilience, Our Progress, Our Power focuses on issues faced by Black women with respect to social, political, economic, religious, and family institutions.

We celebrate Black women’s strengths, inspirations, accomplishments, and values in this issue. Many of the written works include tributes to women who serve as mothers, sisters, aunties, grandmothers, and mentors. We look at the roles of Black women as civil rights leaders, teachers, athletes, activists, artists, businesswomen, and more. We delve into the issues that Black women have met with historically and present-day: misogyny and abuse, as well as our relentless fight for social justice and human rights.

Celebrating Black Women can be a complex endeavor. Do we ignore the complexities of our lives, the heartache, pain, and pathos? Do we focus only on our boundless, remarkable creativity and genius? Do we acknowledge the infinite support we show our loved ones and others? Do we applaud our ability to have faith and fervor even in the face of challenges?

We posed these questions to a wellspring of creatives (poets, writers, artists, activists and intellectuals) in our communities around the globe. What we received was a complement of work that spoke to the multifaceted people Black women are. These poems that creatively speak and shout about the resistance and resilience of women include, African Angel Goddess by Jacqueline Johnson, What To Do When A Politician Tries To Fall Into Your Vagina Feet First by Theresa Davis, and Black Pearl by Jose' Angel Figueroa. Then we look further at other work applauding our authors, activists and ancestors including, An Irresistible Revolution: The Toni Cade Bambara Scholars/Writers/Activist Collective by M. Bahati Kuumba, Ph.D. The photographs of esteemed writers by celebrated PhotoGriot Susan J. Ross further enliven this exciting issue of Merge. Be sure to feast your eyes on African Lady by Kevin Sipp in our Artist Spotlight.

We are pleased to say that Merge Literary Magazine is consistently celebrating our lives, literature, and art. We invite you to share and celebrate with us.

Mari Rice Founding Editor-in-Chief
Malkia M'Buzi Moore Associate Editor

If your name does not appear in the table of contents and contributors and you are an established or emerging writer or visual artist whose work should be featured in Merge Literary Magazine, please submit to our next issue.