Junesy

Cracklins an grahma's stolen MacNish. Secreted kisses filled, still, with innocence. Whispers bou Nae-Nae an Booba, while sittin' in yo' backyard listnin'na ole folks records an' jubba'in. Back befo' we were taught idle hands did da devil's work. Back befo' dey traumas sullied us. Dem days, jus you an' me, sittin' on Erica's porch. Throwin'…

Inheritance

Grandma didn't give me fairytales. No brotha' rabbit, magical frogs or amicable men named John. My grandma didn't give me fairytales, because she loved me and knew my life would have none.

Ndi Echefuru Echefu (The Lost Ones)

Patricia C. McKissack writes about being curious of how African literature and music portrayed those who were captured in the slave trade. She goes on to express her dismay at not being able to find any reference to them in her research. Nonetheless, she knew their violent departures from their homelands had to have been grieved by…