Destined to become a classic in the tradition of the best-selling Black-Eyed Susans/Midnight Birds and Erotique Noire/ Black Erotica. Afrekete gives collective voice to the tradition of black lesbian writing. In the vast and proliferating area of both African-American and lesbian and gay writing, the work of black lesbians is most often excluded or relegated to the margins. Afrekete meshes these seemingly disparate traditions and celebrates black lesbian experiences in all their variety and depth. Elegant, timely, provocative, and inspiring, the fiction, poetry, and nonfiction in Afrekete—written in a range of styles—engage a variety of highly topical themes, placing them at the center of literary and social discourse. Beginning with "Tar Beach," an excerpt from Audre Lorde's celebrated memoir Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, which introduces the character Afrekete, the collection also includes such prominent writers as Michelle Cliff, Carolivia Herron, Jewelle Gomez, and Alexis De Veaux. Other pieces are by Jacqueline Woodson, Sapphire, Essence editor Linda Villarosa, and filmmaker Michelle Parkerson, with other contributions by exciting new writers Cynthia Bond, Jocelyn Taylor, Jamika Ajalon, and Sharee Nash. Afrekete is a collection whose time has come. It is an extraordinary work, one of lasting value for all lovers of literature. A fresh, engaging journey, Afrekete will both inform and delight. Contents: Tar beach by Audre Lorde American dreams by Sapphire Testimony of a naked woman by Jocelyn Maria Taylor Water call by Helen Elaine Lee Tuesday, August third by Jacqueline Woodson Dear Aunt Nanadine by Alexis De Veaux Odds and ends by Michelle Parkerson What has yet to be sung by Malkia Cyril The old lady by Carolivia Herron Wink of an eye by Jewelle Gomez Kaleidoscope by Jamika Ajalon Queen for 307 days by Jackie Goldsby Where will you be? by Pat Parker Screen memory by Michelle Cliff Revelations by Linda Villarosa Ruby by Cynthia Bond Dare by Melanie Hope Take care by Sharee Nash Ode to Aretha by Evelyn C. White Today is not the day by Audre Lorde