Resources for black-run literary organizations

Dear Community,

The injustices against Black people in this country and across the world are not new. As so many thinkers have pointed out, it is only now that such violences are being recorded. The strength of organized protests across the world demonstrates a hopeful turning point: We can and should supply a list of demands in every industry and institution that has, at its foundation, ties to systemic racism and white supremacy. Such models are insidious for how they can act invisibly and under the auspices of “objectivity” and the empty calls for diversity while doing little to interrogate a system from which they benefit. The same is true for the publishing model, which has its roots in these selfsame facets of white supremacy. We at The Atlas Review stand in solidarity, and encourage readers to donate to bail funds and Black-led grassroots organizations. In fact, if you email us (theatlasreview [at] gmail [dot] com) receipts of your recent donations along with your shipping address, we will send you up to three chapbooks of your choice. Conversely, if you don’t have the financial means but are out in the streets volunteering and putting labor into improving your communities, feel free to send us a few sentences of these efforts and we’ll send you chapbooks of your choice.

To the extent that so much of the literary world mirrors the systemic violences of the outer world, it occurred to me that we have the power to refocus our attention toward those literary organizations that are indeed Black-run and -led. As we approach the prospect of community-powered cities and ratify the racist authoritarian orders of a police state, so too should we look elsewhere for literary enrichment. While we must apply pressure to problematic foundations within our community, we must also celebrate Black excellence where it already exists. The literary organizations below have been doing the work to prioritize Black voices, for many years and many decades. If you’re able to donate to any (or all!) of the below organizations, send us your receipts and we will send you chapbooks. You should also subscribe to these organizations. I hope this can also serve as an ever-evolving resource for Black writers new and old. Feel free to share these images in your networks. Here, too, is a PDF for easy dissemination. We will do the same on our social media platforms.

This list is not exhaustive. If you notice a Black-run literary entity missing here, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. You can email us at theatlasreview [at] gmail [dot] com.

Sincerely,

Natalie Eilbert
Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of The Atlas Review