2LP Explorations in Diversity

BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED, A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS, POEMS AND PERSONAL NARRATIVES, edited by Abiodun Oyewole with an afterword by Felipe Luciano, sends a powerful reminder to readers that black lives have always mattered. This anthology is divided into five sections: "Mourning Black Lives That Mattered," "Black Skin/White Masks," "Black Spaces/Black Places," "Black Lives Remembered/Reclaimed," and "The Legacy of Black Protest Continues." It tackles a variety of pressing issues and racial inequalities that disproportionately affect the black community. While the majority of the writings come from African American poets, writers, activists, and scholars, it also includes contributions from individuals of Latino/a and African descent, as well as white activists. Together, these 79 contributors issue a call to action, urging readers to examine their long-standing beliefs about black lives, white privilege, and fragility, while reflecting on the historical and ongoing impacts of racism and structural inequality. By linking the past with the present, the contributors of BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED offer a thought-provoking and compelling collection that could inspire a renewed movement for black liberation and equality for everyone.

THE BEIGING OF AMERICA, BEING MIXED RACE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, is an anthology edited by mixed-race scholars Cathy J. Schlund-Vials, Sean Frederick Forbes, and Tara Betts, featuring narratives from 39 contributors, including poets, writers, and activists, who explore the complexities of interracial life in the U.S. The collection addresses themes such as discrimination, self-identification, colorism, and childhood memories, reflecting the lived experiences of mixed-race individuals and challenging traditional racial constructs. Inspired by Hua Hsu's 2009 article on changing demographics and interracial marriage, the anthology highlights the frustration of contributors who often face the question, "What are you?" This underscores the ongoing significance of race in a society that claims to be post-racial. Overall, THE BEIGING OF AMERICA offers a profound exploration of racial identity and alienation, emphasizing the intricate realities of mixed-race experiences and delivering an empowering message to readers.