One aspect of this work that has inspired us here at Emerge—The Journal of Black Liberation is how many truth-tellers, artists, and writers were willing to sacrifice their time to contribute to this project. Most, if not all, were previously unknown to me, but their activism and voices across the social media and academic landscape could not be ignored. My heartfelt thanks and admiration will forever be theirs.
We have commitments for the rest of the year, and here are a few of the themes you can look forward to experiencing at the hands and pens of these remarkable writers and artists.
In July, we get to sit with Dr. Letisha Brown as she covers Black women and sports. Anyone who has or is watching the WNBA and women’s sports in general cannot ignore the paradigm shift that has occurred across the sporting landscape—and Black women are leading and creating that change. Black women in sports are not just participating—they are redefining the game. From dominating on the court in the WNBA to shaping culture, media narratives, and fan engagement, Black women athletes are at the forefront of a paradigm shift in the sporting world. Their excellence, activism, and unapologetic presence challenge longstanding gender and racial hierarchies, forcing institutions, sponsors, and audiences to reckon with their power and value. As trailblazers and changemakers, Black women are not only elevating women’s sports—they’re transforming them into platforms for equity, innovation, and cultural resonance.
We have prepared two contributions for August. Fredericka Turner, a strong, active supporter of Black empowerment, is cooking up a special contribution for the journal. We may also hear from Dr. Jabari as he writes about “The Lie We Inherited: Black Men, Sex, and the Trauma of Enslavement.” The author will explore how centuries of colonization and slavery distorted Black male sexuality, planting deep-rooted insecurities that still echo today. This piece uncovers the historical forces that turned desire into danger, masculinity into menace, and vulnerability into weakness for Black men. It examines how these inherited lies—crafted through surveillance, control, and dehumanization—continue to impact self-image, relationships, and mental health. Ultimately, the essay invites readers to confront this legacy and begin the journey toward healing and reclaiming Black male identity on their terms.
September may mark the end of the sweltering summer, but Takeisha Parks is set to ignite the debate with her presentation on "Liberation through Black Speculative Literature.” We are eagerly anticipating this much-anticipated essay! This topic explores how Afrofuturism, African futurism, and other forms of Black speculative writing create imaginative blueprints for freedom beyond the constraints of white supremacy, colonial history, and systemic erasure. These works transcend realism to envision liberated futures, ancestral reckonings, and empowered identities, blending sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and mythology. By bending time, space, and reality, Black speculative literature becomes a tool of resistance and reimagination—offering new worlds where Black lives not only matter but lead, transform, and thrive.
Dr. Theresa Miller is scheduled to open our minds through her discussion of “The Liberation of Black Women through Friendships.” The liberation of Black women through friendships speaks to the profound, healing power of sisterhood as a refuge from systemic oppression, emotional isolation, and societal erasure. These bonds create safe spaces for vulnerability, joy, accountability, and mutual uplift—offering emotional freedom that often eludes them in other arenas. Rooted in shared lived experience, Black women’s friendships serve as acts of resistance and reclamation, affirming worth, shaping identity, and nurturing resilience. Through laughter, truth-telling, and collective care, these relationships become revolutionary vessels for healing and personality—and we are here for it all!
In the November issue of Emerge, we get to experience the voice of an amazing entrepreneur and spiritual scholar, Lavonne Stagg-Hope. Lavonne’s story, “Give Us Free: Returning to Our Original Status,” is sure to embolden and strengthen this village in the current climate of dramatic change and violence that aims to further oppress our community. Her story envisions a collective journey back to a state of dignity, autonomy, and sacred selfhood that predates enslavement, colonization, and systemic dehumanization. It frames liberation not merely as resistance to oppression but as a reclamation of ancestral power, cultural memory, and spiritual wholeness. This return is both symbolic and material—a radical refusal to be defined by imposed identities and a call to restore the divine and sovereign status of Black people as creators, visionaries, and stewards of their destiny. In this framework, freedom is not granted—it is remembered, reactivated, and lived.
We close out the year with Dr. John Pierre Craig, Jr. We will get the opportunity to hold counsel with Dr. Craig as they discuss “Black and Indigenous People—Allies and Heritage.” Dr. Craig will explore the deep-rooted intersections of struggle, survival, and sovereignty between Black and Indigenous communities. Bound by shared histories of displacement, genocide, and resistance to colonial violence, these groups have long found strength in solidarity and mutual recognition. This alliance is not merely strategic—it is ancestral, cultural, and spiritual, rooted in kinship ties, interwoven legacies, and parallel quests for land, dignity, and self-determination. Honoring both the distinct and overlapping narratives of Black and Indigenous peoples affirms a powerful, decolonized future where liberation is collective, reparative, and sacred.
From June to December, Emerge: The Journal of Black Liberation showcases a vibrant lineup of visionary contributors who illuminate the many dimensions of Black freedom and empowerment. Bethany Nicole opens the summer with an expansive reflection rooted in her soulful Substack publications. July brings Dr. Letisha Brown’s powerful examination of Black women in sports, highlighting their leadership in reshaping cultural and athletic norms. August offers dual possibilities: Fredericka Turner’s empowering voice or Dr. Jabari’s critical analysis of the literacy crisis among Black men. In September, Takeisha Parks dives into Black speculative literature as a site of radical reimagination, while October features Dr. Theresa Miller’s exploration of friendship as a path to emotional and communal liberation for Black women. Lavonne Stagg-Hope elevates the November issue with a spiritual and cultural call to reclaim Black divinity and autonomy. The year concludes in December with Dr. John Pierre Craig, Jr., who reflects on Black and Indigenous solidarity as a sacred, ancestral alliance in the shared journey toward liberation.
Emerge urges you to subscribe to this journal to access these great works of liberation and knowledge sharing. Come, join us, and let us grow forward into freedom!