midnight & indigo - Celebrating Black women writers (Issue 3) (PB) (2020)

midnight & indigo is a literary journal dedicated to short fiction and narrative essays by Black women writers.

Featuring 19 Black women writers, the third issue includes contributions by Vanessa Anyanso, Itoro Bassey, Jennifer Celestin, Stefani Cox, Elizabeth Crowder, Christine Hill, Nikki Igbo, Lori D. Johnson, Michelle Johnson, Taylor Jordan, Ambata Kazi-Nance, Jesica Lovelace, Shanda McManus, Ava Ming, María Elena Montero, Noro Otitigbe, Jasmyne K. Rogers, Ethel Smith and Sekai K. Ward.

In "The Outing" by Itoro Bassey, a Nigerian-American woman navigates family, sexuality, trauma, and her need for independence. "Makers of Men" by Christine Hill explores the Black woman's burden in ensuring the well-being of Black men.

A little boy is guided by his grandmother's love in "The Easter Speech" by Lori D. Johnson. "The Prell Sisters of Alabama" by Ethel Smith is about three sisters who taught in the Black Belt of Alabama during the 1950s.

Two lovers return to New Orleans to stoke the flames of their love affair, in "The House on Dante and Belfast" by Nikki Igbo. Set in 18th century West Africa, "Alero" by Noro Otitigbe is the story of a girl who marries the man of her dreams, only to be persecuted for her infertility.

Tavia is reminded of her spiritual strength after learning a painful lesson in "Everybody Can't Come to Your House" by Jasmyne K. Rogers. "Rooster" by Michelle Johnson is based on the true story of the Kentucky Raid in Cass County, MI in 1847. The Black women who fought back against enslavers aren't typically spoken about.

A Nigerian-American college student struggles with her identity in "Coming Home" by Vanessa Anyanso. Coping with a recent breakup, Zuri has locked herself in the bedroom she shared with her ex-lover. When she receives a call from his wife, she learns that he has been dead for ten years, in "How to Find a Husband" by Jesica Lovelace.

In "Heart Conjure" by Stefani Cox, Sade and Delario share a love for the Black spiritual tradition of hoodoo and ancestral/spirit-oriented practices. Eventually, however, they start to grow apart, and Sade has to find herself again.

After a series of disastrous relationships, Precious finds herself poor, alone, and suffering through the unrelenting misery of the bleakest winter ever in "Roses On The Wallpaper" by Ava Ming. In "Yo-Excuse Me, Miss," by Jennifer Celestin, Altagracia and Manny have a brief but powerful interaction on a city street.

Big Sister takes Little Sister from Englewood in "A Day N the Life" by Taylor Jordan. A young man must decide what he is willing to risk to feel fulfilled in "Donte's Choice" by Shanda McManus. In "Congratulations, It's a Girl" by Ambata Kazi-Nance, a young Black Muslim woman, estranged from her family, attends her older brother's wedding.

After a 20-year estrangement, a daughter and her elderly father meet at a guest house in Zimbabwe in The Postmortem by Sekai K. Ward. Impossible by Elizabeth Crowder explores memories of growing up with an anxiety disorder with a bipolar mother. And Looking for Papi by María Elena Montero is about the space found to find and forgive a father for the ways he was absent.