Read Now! The Inaugural Issue of ‘Nepantla: A Journal Dedicated to Queer Poets of Color’

Author: Christopher Soto

September 4, 2014

WELCOME TO NEPANTLA

 Bridges span liminal (threshold) spaces between worlds, spaces I call nepantla, a Nahuatl word meaning tierra entre medio. Transformations occur in this in-between space, an unstable, unpredictable, precarious, always-in-transition space lacking clear boundaries. Nepantla es tierra desconocida, and living in this liminal zone means being in a constant state of displacement–an uncomfortable, even alarming feeling. Most of us dwell in nepantla so much of the time it’s become a sort of “home.” Though this state links us to other ideas, people, and worlds, we feel threatened by these new connections and the change they engender.

– Gloria Anzaldua

WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE

Nepantla: A Journal Dedicated to Queer Poets of Color is an intentional community space. Our mission is to nurture, celebrate, and preserve diversity within the queer poetry community. Through this journal, we are attempting to center the lives and experiences of QPOC in contemporary America. Thus, we view the journal (and our reading series) as part of a whole artistic project and not individual fragments of work. We believe that (here) the high lyric must encounter colloquial narrative. Here, we must provide space to celebrate both our similarities and our differences. We are one community with an array of experiences; we write in different formats, in different tones, of different circumstances. Nepantla is not the sort of journal that can project a singular voice (not if we want to reflect the various realities of our community). Nepantla is a journal of multiplicity, of continual reinvention.

ACCOUNTABILITY CULTURE

Nepantla is not an apolitical literary journal. We stand strongly against racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, xenophobia, etc. We do NOT believe in the notion of “craft” as an excuse to justify oppressive language. If (for some reason) you, the reader, feel discriminated against by the language used in our poems then please let us know. Keep us accountable. We have done our best to provide a safe space for the QPOC community. We hope you enjoy the fierceness!

(click image above to access the full online journal)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Joy KMT	to whom it may concern:
Heidi Andrea Restrepo Rhodes	The Terror of Clean
Xandria Phillips	r e a s o n s  f o r   s m o k i n g
Crysbel Tejada	Ominous Light
Eduardo Martinez	I NEVER WANTED TO SPEAK
Darrel Alejandro Holnes	Prometí Nunca Hacer Drag
Roberto F. Santiago	Florals
Justin Phillip Reed	You Construct Intricate Rituals
JP Howard	Diva Doll
t’ai freedom ford	the beautiful people
Danez Smith	On Grace
Kevin Simmonds	I expected to be sad in New Orleans
Dwayne Martine	Aporia
Paul Tran	THIS TIME, THERE WAS NO
Joey De Jesus	Eastchester Bay [ending with an offering]
Pamela Sneed	Survivor 2014
Myriam Gurba	Constellated
Mariah L. Richardson	Butter Cream
Muriel Leung	Cry Wolf
Naima Woods	Necropsy
Kazim Ali	Bird Hospital
Cam Awkward-Rich	Another Middle-Class Black Kid Tries To Name It
Yani Robinson	Lou Sullivan’s Birthday
Rajorshi Das	My Father’s Boyfriend
Rage Hezekiah	MY FATHER, SWIMMING
Roberto Montes	no subject) –
Chen Chen	Spell to Find Family
Lara Weibgen	I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Derrick Austin	Major Arcana: Judgment
Rosebud Ben-Oni	She Calls Once That Is A Lie
Metta Sáma	{insert terror}
Amber Atiya	if my slumlord allowed pets

To download an epub file of the Nepantla Journal click here.