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Two Notes from the Organizers: Tricia Elam Walker & François Bereaud



I feel so fortunate to teach at an HBCU (Historically Black College and University), not to mention the best one, ahem Howard University of course! Just kidding, sort of. Yes, I’m biased but I have the utmost respect for all HBCUs. They have a monumental task and rise to and beyond their precious mission on the daily.


The first HBCU ever was Cheyney University of PA established in 1837. More followed before and after the Civil War. In most southern states Black Americans were prohibited from seeking an education and in the north, they were strongly discouraged. Most HBCUs were started by philanthropists and free Black people. They were established to educate descendants of formerly enslaved individuals and offer them training to likewise teach others. They provided a safe space for Black people to learn and thrive and still do. Since 1867, Howard University has awarded more than 100,000 degrees in the professions, arts, sciences and humanities.


There is a special nurturing that takes place at HBCUs. We faculty care for and raise up these special individuals who generally come with a history of struggle, racism, discrimination, etc. in their DNA, whether they’ve experienced it or not. And most have. Many students come to us after having been the only person of color in their previous school or one of a few or the only one in their high school’s AP classes and quite often they have suffered trauma because of it. At an HBCU there may be other issues, but students don’t have to cope with the microaggressions of these past situations and can experience some semblance of walking through the world without being reminded daily of the color of their skin. They can release those long-held breaths and strengthen their inner resources in preparation to go back out to America’s racial battlefield in four years.


Howard University, with its rich history of celebrated writer alumni such as Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, WEB Dubois and Amiri Baraka, offers a creative writing concentration within which students choose to focus on poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction. Such an intense focus helps young writers make unexpected and wonderful discoveries about their own work as they learn to compassionately critique their classmates’ work.


We are honored to participate in this special BIPOC issue of Roi Fainéant Press. Thank you for having us!!


Tricia Elam Walker, Asst. Prof of Creative Writing, Howard University



We are incredibly excited to present our first BIPoC issue. This issue features writers who span the globe including outstanding indie voices to those who have achieved the success of book publication. We are spotlighting young Black excellence through a partnership with the creative writing program at Howard University. You will find nine pieces here written by current Howard students. Their poetry and stories will take you to unexpected and delightful places. Read them with joy. A huge thank you to Professor Tricia Elam Walker who led the effort on the Howard end, has provided us great insight into what makes HBCUs so special, and gifted us a stunning written piece of her personal history, so relevant for today’s difficult times.

We also spotlight the work of two visual artists. Enjoy Sadee and Bobby’s works and take a gander at their websites to perhaps add to your personal art collection.

I’m very proud of this effort and feel so much gratitude to all of the artists who sent us their work and the team at Roi Fainéant.


Read, enjoy, and share.

François

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