Identities are singular and plural, fixed and mobile, conferred and constructed, even when those who claim and deny them tend to focus on the fixities and to downplay the dynamism. In this day of Black Lives Matter and other movements and calls for social justice, people are exploring how identities are shaped, how different identities intersect and intertwine, and how strands of identity overlap and bring joys, burdens, and responsibilities.
Conversations are taking place in organizations and society at large about the power of nurturing spaces and cultures supportive of bringing one’s being in the fullness of its complexity and nuance to bear in interrelating, in a spirit of respect and dignity. A world where diversity and pluralversality are appreciated and promoted is a richer world.
We invite you to submit your 750-word reflection or story – not yet published – on “Intersecting and Intertwining Identities.” It may be authored or co-authored. It may be your story or the story of someone else, which story or thoughts you document, with their consent and including their name.
Submission deadline: 15 April 2021
Instead of (or in addition to) the writing, you may submit a high-resolution jpeg of new artwork by you or a friend depicting “Identity,” including the signature of the artist(s). Selected black and white pieces will be included in the book; the Langaa web page for the book will feature the color version (or B/W original) of selected submissions.
The editorial team hopes to review submissions and revert to all submitters at the end of March 2021. Every submission will be commented, even if it cannot be included in the 200-page volume. The book will be an insight into diverse ways in which identities are constructed and perceived in various African contexts, and how they relate to history and contemporary issues and struggles.
We seek compelling storytelling, unique perspectives, and creative diversity among the contributors and contributions.
Please share your submission by 15 April 2021 via identities@langaa-rpcig.net – or let us know if you need more time. Include name, country/countries of nationality and of residence, high resolution profile photo, and 40-word bio of author(s)/artist(s). And if you so desire: sex/gender (non-binary, F, M…) and year of birth.