First published 2002
This collection brings together twelve voices from the International Black Writers and Artists of Los Angeles, each contributing original fiction that reflects the African American experience through a contemporary lens. The anthology features contributions from celebrated authors including Octavia E. Butler, Eric Jerome Dickey, Wanda Coleman, and Stanley Crouch, alongside emerging talents like Sikivu Hutchinson and Gary Phillips. Each story stands as an independent work while contributing to a larger conversation about identity, community, and creativity in modern America. The writers draw from the griot tradition of storytelling, weaving narratives that span urban landscapes and intimate personal moments. From Donald Bakeer's street-smart observations to Jervey Tervalon's nuanced character studies, the collection showcases the diversity of voices within Los Angeles's vibrant literary community. These stories capture the complexity of Black life in America at the turn of the millennium, offering readers both entertainment and insight into experiences that range from the everyday to the extraordinary.
Genres: fiction, african-american, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, slice-of-life
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 21st-century
190 pages · Paperback · Larod Publishing Company