Black and Latin@: Conceptualizing Afro-Latinidad in Afro-Latina/o Literature and Performance

Co-Directors Michele Shaul and Kathryn Quinn-Sánchez announce a special edition
of Label Me Latina/o edited by Jill Toliver Richardson

CFP Deadline: 4 November 2016

This special edition focuses on the work of Afro-Latino/a writers who are developing a literary and performance tradition, which delineates an Afro-Latina/o experience in the United States and defines the elements of Afro-Latina/o identity. Afro-Latina/o writers within the United States are producing their own literary tradition that is deeply connected to the experiences of those of African heritage throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Together they are demanding the recognition of Afro-Latinidad throughout the African diaspora. This issue was conceived in response to recently published texts, including The Afro-Latin@ Reader: History and Culture in the United States edited by Miriam Jiménez Román and Juan Flores 2010 (Duke UP), which examine various elements of Afro-Latinidades and provide diverse conceptualizations of Afro-Latina/o identity within and beyond the U.S. For this special edition of Label Me Latina/o, we are requesting works that identify and explore the most pertinent topics in Afro-Latina/o literature and
performance including but not limited to memory, the body, race, nation, diaspora,
transnationalism, sexuality, gender and spirituality. We are also requesting creative works by Afro-Latina/o writers (US-based) that explore some aspect of the Afro-Latina/o experience.

Label Me Latina/o is an online, refereed international e-journal that focuses on Latino Literary Production in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The journal invites scholarly essays focusing on these writers for its biannual publication. Label Me Latina/o also publishes creative literary pieces whose authors self-define as Latina or Latino regardless of thematic content. Interviews of Latino or Latina authors will also be considered. The Co-Directors will publish creative works and interviews in English, Spanish or Spanglish whereas analytical essays should be written in English or Spanish.

Scholarly submissions should be between 12-30 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font and should follow the MLA Style Manual. Creative poetry, essays and short fiction should not exceed 30 pages (12 point font, double-spaced). Submissions in Microsoft Word (PC compatible format) should be sent electronically to the editor for this issue: Jill Toliver Richardson: JillTRichardson@msn.com.

Full details for scholarly and creative submissions may be found on the Label Me Latina/o website.

Special issue scheduled for Summer 2017, deadline 4 November 2016.

Above adapted from special issue CFP.