Kweli Journal

@kwelijournal

Award-winning literary magazine and nonprofit. Kweli means truth. We seek out, support, and publish writers of color who sing the truth. See upcoming workshops, events, and programs: linktr.ee/kwelijournal. Photo: Tandem Collective

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Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· 10d

🚨 Starts TODAY! The Art of the Short Story—a safer space for writers of color, including Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, Latine, LGBTQ+ writers, led by Kweli Founding Editor & Publisher Laura Pegram. ➤Craft seminars ➤In-class writing ➤Masterworks study ➤Peer reviews SIGN UP at link in bio ↑

IMAGE: sepia photo of a Black author discussing their craft.
TEXT: THE ART of the SHORT STORY WORKSHOP
A SIX-WEEK INTENSIVE
BEGINNING AUGUST 3, 2026
ENDING SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

IMAGE: Quote graphic featuring a testimonial for the Art of the Short Story Workshop. TEXT: "Kweli Journal was one of the first major publications to accept my work. The editor, Laura Pegram, went above and beyond the acceptance letter. We worked on the edits over the phone for hours and revised draft after draft through email. When "Straight Dollars or Loose Change" was finally published in Kweli, I was proud of the story that emerged from so many hours of work with the Kweli staff. When I received that acceptance email from Kweli, I had received so many rejections that I was just about to give up on publishing altogether. That acceptance and the journal's belief in my work was just what I needed to push through as a writer. To believe in myself as a writer."
-LATOYA WATKINS, 2023 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST FICTION

Image: Quote graphic featuring a testimonial for the art of the short story workshop. TEXT: "Never has my work been taken so seriously or held with such keen attention and care. For the first time in a long time, my work as a woman of color, and all my intersectionalities, was not only centered, but celebrated, and for that, I am forever grateful to my amazing and talented cohort, the fantastic workshop and masterclass leaders, and the inimitable and gracious Laura Pegram, who created this beautiful community."
-DELIA SELINA TAYLOR, 2022 KWELI FELLOW

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· 22d

ICYMI: There’s still time to check out the current issue of KWELI JOURNAL, including the poems "On the Ninth Floor," and "Great American Suicide Note" by Thea Matthews. READ the full piece on our website→ www.kwelijournal.org/poetry-1/202... #poetry #bipocauthors #literarymagazine

Image: a quote graphic featuring an excerpt of the poem GREAT AMERICAN SUICIDE NOTE by THEA MATTHEWS. TEXT: "You find America-- / plasticized, processed, smoking a Marlboro cigarette, the poison / gleams, the glam of starvation, / like Glock to glove, / a red tie claims / he knows what's best."
GREAT AMERICAN SUICIDE NOTE
THEA MATTHEWS
kwelijournal.org

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· 23d

ICYMI: There’s still time to check out the current issue of KWELI JOURNAL, including the short story "NOTORIOUS" by MUBANGA KALIMAMUKWENTO. READ the full story on our website→ www.kwelijournal.org/fiction/2026...

Quote graphic of a story excerpt from the current issue of Kweli Journal. TEXT: "Many of them were office workers, freshly middle-class but still wearing the stench of poverty on their heads like a mother's lochia on her newborn's frantic fontanelle. They clung to these bloated dreams for their daughters, as if they would supplant their own unfulfilled ambitions."
NOTORIOUS, MUBANGA KALIMAMUKWENTO kwelijournal.org

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· 23d

📣 LAST CALL! There’s still time to check out the current issue of KWELI JOURNAL, including this short story by Nívea Castro. READ the full story → www.kwelijournal.org/fiction/2026...

Quote graphic featuring an excerpt of the short story DEEP DIVING THE BLUES by Nivea Castro. TEXT: "By the time Theos died three months later, two days after his 45th birthday, I was using again. I couldn't hook up a solid coke dealer, so I turned to Mamuti. Mi ex jeva. She was my connection back when we were together. I tracked her to Kooki's, the mafia operated bar on 14th street, a safe space for women in the life' It was where we first met, flirted and slow danced to Olga Tañon and Marvin Gaye till the bar closed at four. It was also where she caught me getting it on with una cualquiera in a nasty toilet stall seven months later. (I never did get that chica's name.)"
DEEP DIVING THE BLUES BY NIVEA CASTRO
@kwelijournal.org

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· 28d

LAST CALL! There’s still time to check out the CURRENT issue of KWELI JOURNAL before our next issue drops at the end of this month! READ NOW ⟶ www.kwelijournal.org/currentissue

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jul 13

Starts TOMORROW‼️ The Art of the Short Story—a safer space for writers of color, including Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, Latine, LGBTQ+ writers, led by Kweli Founding Editor & Publisher Laura Pegram. ➤Craft seminars ➤In-class writing ➤Masterworks study ➤Peer reviews SIGN UP at link in bio 👆🏿👆🏾

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jul 6

NEXT Week‼️ The Art of the Short Story Workshop—a safer space for writers of color, including Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, Latine, LGBTQ+ writers, led by Kweli Founding Editor/Publisher Laura Pegram. ➤Craft seminars ➤In-class writing ➤Masterworks study ➤Peer reviews MORE INFO at link in bio 👆🏿👆🏾

Image: Quote graphic featuring a testimonial from Delia Selina Taylor, 2022 Kweli Fellow. Text: "Never has my work been taken so seriously or held with such keen attention and care. For the first time in a long time, my work as a woman of color, and all my intersectionalities, was not only centered, but celebrated, and for that, I am forever grateful to my amazing and talented cohort, the fantastic workshop and masterclass leaders, and the inimitable and gracious Laura Pegram, who created
this beautiful community."
-DELIA SELINA TAYLOR

Image: quote graphic featuring a testimonial from a workshop participant. Text: "Laura's workshop is an oasis. The safe place I truly needed. She creates the space we writers of color dream of, whether we're just setting out as wide-eyed apprentices, or we're seasoned writers."
-FELICIA JANET WARD
2002 Stegner Fellow,
Katherine Ann Porter Prize Winner
THE ART OF THE SHORT STORY WORKSHOP ATTENDEE

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 30

📖 Nívea Castro (Kweli Fellow 2022) Nívea's story, DEEP DIVING THE BLUES, is featured in the current issue of Kweli Journal. 3/4

Image: Quote graphic featuring an excerpt of the short story DEEP DIVING THE BLUES.
TEXT: By the time Theos died three months later, two days after his 45th birthday, I was using again. I couldn't hook up a solid coke dealer, so I turned to Mamuti. Mi ex jeva. She was my connection back when we were together. I tracked her to Kooki's, the mafia operated bar on 14th street, a safe space for women in the life! It was where we first met, flirted and slow danced to Olga Tañon and Marvin Gaye till the bar closed at four. It was also where she caught me getting it on with una cualquiera in a nasty toilet stall seven months later. (I never did get that chica's name.)
DEEP DIVING THE BLUES
BY NIVEA CASTRO

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 30

📖 Delia Selina Taylor (Kweli Fellow 2021) Delia’s story, CONGO SQUARE, appeared in our May 17, 2022 issue. 2/4

IMAGE: quote graphic featuring an excerpt of the story Congo Square. TEXT: He stretch and his eyes follow mine to the clock. He bolt up now, cussin under his breath. Lookin for his clothes, he find them there at the edge of the bed where I left them, all neat. Now is right round the time I hate: havin to watch him dress up and turn into that woman. He put his brown wig on- the one with the curls bunched up in the front like that Nina Mae McKinney he partial to- and shimmy back into the skirt, and all of a sudden he ain't the man I love no more- he the woman I always wanted to
be.

IMAGE: Quote graphic of an excerpt of a short story. TEXT: He turn his back to me and wait, and I do my part like I'm sposed to-help him snap his garter to his stockins; zip up the skirt; tie the silk square round his neck to cover the things ain't meant to be seen; and sit
back on the bed.
CONGO SQUARE
BY DELIA SELINA TAYLOR

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 24

We're hosting the NYC book launch for SHARDS OF SILENCE by Brian Lee Young, one of the first Indigenous writers we mentored back in 2015. JOIN US for a ⟶ reading ⟶ conversation ⟶ dance performance This #Kweli26 event is FREE & OPEN TO ALL w/ RSVP. 📩 Email us at events@kwelijournal.org to SIGN UP!

Image: Program invite for Kweli Color of Children's Literature Conference featuring a photo of author Brian Lee Young. Text: 2026 Kweli Color of Children's Literature Conference #KWELI26
CLOSING EVENT with BRIAN LEE YOUNG
SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH AKWAABA 6:30PM - 8:30PM
#Kweli26 | kwelijournal.org
New York Law School, VSA, NEW YORK STATE OF OPPORTUNITY Council on the Arts, AKWAABA Bed & Breakfast Inns

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 23

You coming? 💐 There's still time to join us TONIGHT at Kweli's Color of Children's Literature Conference celebration of Renée Watson, TIME magazine's Visionaries 2026 Honoree. 💐 FREE and OPEN TO ALL w/ RSVP! 📩 email us at events@kwelijournal.org to SAVE YOUR SPOT! #kidlit #bipocauthors

image: Program announcement for Kweli Color of Children's Literature Conference, featuring a photo of author Renée Watson.
Text: 2026 Kweli Color of Children's Literature Conference
-celebrates-
RENÉE'S SWEET SIXTEEN!
Join us in celebrating Renée Watson's 16th publishing anniversary!
TUESDAY, JUNE 23RD AKWAABA | 6:30PM - 8:30PM
#Kweli26 | kwelijournal.org
New York Law School, VSA, NEW YORK STATE OF OPPORTUNITY Council on the Arts, AKWAABA BED & BREAKFAST

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 16

🎉 Kweli's Color of Children's Literature Conference #Kweli26 continues with a FREE event OPEN TO ALL w/ RSVP! Join us as we celebrate author Renée Watson, with new music from composer kt madison. 📩 email us at events@kwelijournal.org to save your spot! #kidlit #bipocauthors #booksky #ReneeWatson

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 4

We’re proud to be a 2026 general operating grant awardee of the Literary Arts Fund! @literaryartsfund.bsky.social Read the full announcement ↴ literaryartsfund.org/announcing-t...

Purple graphic from the Literary Arts Fund with the text "We're a 2026 Literary Arts Fund General Operating Grant Awardee"

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Oct 16

🚨 Today is the LAST DAY to register for Kweli International Literary Festival. Registration includes all-access to Opening Weekend program featuring keynotes and breakout sessions OCT 18-19, + access to multimedia readings, convos and craft talks scheduled thru NOV 18. 🎟️ SIGN UP at link in bio!

Registration announcement for Kweli International Literary Festival featuring the painting “Diaspora Daughter” by Patrick Dougher. Text: 2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
October 18 - November 18
Festival Opening Weekend: October 18-19, 2025
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
KWELIJOURNAL.ORG
#KWELILITFEST25
Dissporo Doughter by Patrick Dougher
New York Law School
AKWAABA Bed and Breakfast Inn Brooklyn

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Oct 15

See full roster and program schedule at the REGISTRATION link in our bio! 👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽👆🏽

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Oct 15

See full roster and program schedule at the REGISTRATION link in our bio! 👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽👆🏽

Photo gallery of faculty at the 2025 Kweli International Literary Festival featuring IWALANI KIM
EBONYA LIA
STEPHANIE MADRID
EMERSON MAHONEY
YASMIN ADELE MAJEED
MEGHA MAJUMDAR
DINAW MENGESTU
YARI MERCEDES
ABHIGNA MOORAKA

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Oct 15

See full roster and program schedule at the REGISTRATION link in our bio! 👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽👆🏽

Photo gallery of faculty at the 2025 Kweli International Literary Festival featuring LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA
HADDY GASSAMA
XOCHITL GONZALEZ
ALEJANDRO HEREDIA
JP INFANTE
YAHDON ISRAEL
GENAY JACKSON
HONORÉE FANONNE JEFFERS
MARTHA S. JONES

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Oct 15

See full roster and program schedule at the REGISTRATION link in our bio! 👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽👆🏽

Photo gallery of faculty at the 2025 Kweli International Literary Festival featuring
NANA KWAME ADJEI-BRENYAH
SARA AZIZA
AALIYAH BILAL
SASHA BONET
AARON JOHN CURTIS
EDWIDGE DANTICAT
YOHANCA DELGADO
NICOLE DENNIS-BENN
NAOMI XU ELEGANT
kwelijournal.org
#KweliLitFest25
New York Law School
Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inn

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Oct 14

Our 2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS include bestselling authors 🌟 Aaliyah Bilal (National Book Award Finalist) 🌟 Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” honoree) 🌟 Megha Majumdar (National Book Award Finalist) See full faculty roster and schedule on our website at link in bio 👆🏿

Program announcement featuring a photo of participating author Aaliyah Bilal. Text: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Aaliyah Bilal
2025 Kwdle International Literary Festival
OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 28

Program announcement featuring a photo of participating author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Text: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 28

Program announcement featuring a photo of participating author Megha Majumdar. Text: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Megha Majumdar
2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 28

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Oct 14

🎉 Writers of Color, there’s still time to join us! REGISTER NOW for Kweli International Literary Festival, featuring workshops, panels, and MORE with award-winning authors of color and top industry editors and agents! REGISTER at link in bio 👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽

Announcement for Kweli International Literary Festival feauting the painting “Diaspora Daughter” by Patrick Dougher. Text: 2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
October 18 - October 28 Opening Weekend
New York Law School
Saturday, October 18 - Sunday, October 19
Closing Multimedia Event
Akwaaba BK
Tuesday, October 28
NEW YORK
LAWSCHOOL
AKWAABA
BED & BREAKFAST INNS
Diaspora Daughter by Patrick Dougher

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Oct 9

ICYMI: 🎉 Kweli International Literary Festival registration is OPEN! 🎉 Join us in-person for opening weekend OCT 18 - 19 at New York Law School for workshops, keynotes and convos, as well as the year’s best chance for emerging writers of color to connect w/ agents and editors!

Registration announcement featuring the portrait “Diaspora Daughter” by Patrick Dougher. Text: 2025 Kweli International Literary Festival October 18 - October 28
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Kwelijournal.org #kwelilitfest25
New York Law School
Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Oct 8

Let’s go! 🎟️ Kweli International Literary Festival registration is OPEN. Join us opening weekend, Oct 18–19, for keynotes and craft talks, and continuing w/ multimedia events and master classes thru Nov 18. Connect w/ agents, editors + BIPOC creatives. LEARN MORE at Link in bio 👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽

Registration announcement featuring the painting “Diaspora Daughter” by Patrick Dougher.
Text: 2025 Kweli
International Literary Festival
October 18 - October 28
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
KWELIJOURNAL.ORG
#KWELILITFEST25
New York Law School
AKWAABA BED & BREAKFAST INNS

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jul 15

⏰ There’s still time to JOIN US! Find community at the Art of the Short Story—a safer space for Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, Latine, LGBTQ+ writers, led by Kweli Editor/Publisher Laura Pegram. ➤Craft seminars ➤In-class writing ➤Masterworks study ➤Peer reviews LEARN MORE at link in bio👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽

Image: sepia photo of a group of writers of color discussing their craft. Text: THE ART of the
SHORT STORY WORKSHOP
A SIX-WEEK INTENSIVE
BEGINNING TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025
ENDING TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025

Image: quote graphic featuring a testimonial for the art of the short story. Text: "Kweli came into my life when I needed it most.
The guidance, and support of other indigenous writers and writers of color fostered through Kweli gave me encouragement, a newfound understanding of craft, and comradery with writers who had faced and overcame barriers to publication. Early in my writing life, editors at Kweli recognized the strength of my stories at time when very few journals would even offer me a form rejection. I hardly look at my old submittable account now, but when I do, there are dozens of rejections for every story that would eventually end up in my debut collection."
-KALI FAJARDO ANSTINE author of Sabrina & Corina

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jul 15

Starts TODAY! The Art of the Short Story, an online intensive for #BIPOC writers with Kweli Founder / Editor Laura Pegram! Part loving bootcamp, part craft seminar, this workshop features in-class writing, close study of works by authors of color, feedback + MORE. FULL DETAILS at bio link 👆🏿

Image: sepia photo of a writer of color discussing their work. Text: THE ART of the
SHORT STORY
WORKSHOP
A SIX-WEEK INTENSIVE
BEGINNING TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025
ENDING TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025

Image: quote graphic featuring a testimonial for the Art of the Short Story. Text: "Laura creates an open, safe environment for discussion, expression, and reflection.
She's invested in the stories--their characters, plot, and themes--as well as the writers themselves. In her workshop, I was able to imagine alternative and parallel storylines, and to, well, euthanize some of my long-held darlings. The feedback from Laura and the other workshop participants was incredibly useful. The reading list was perfect, a masterful collection of poems and shorts."
-ALEJANDRO VARELA
author of The Town of Babylon and The People Who Report More Stress

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jul 14

⏰ Starts TOMORROW! Find community at the Art of the Short Story—a safer space for Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, Latine, LGBTQ+ writers, led by Kweli Editor/Publisher Laura Pegram. ➤Craft seminars ➤In-class writing ➤Masterworks study ➤Peer reviews LEARN MORE at link in bio👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽

Image: quote graphic featuring a testimonial for the art of the short story workshop. Text: Laura's workshop is an oasis.
The safe place I truly needed.
She creates the space we writers of color dream of, whether we're just setting out as wide-eyed apprentices, or we're seasoned writers.
-FELICIA JANET WARD
2002 Stegner Fellow,
Katherine Ann Porter Prize Winner
THE ART OF THE SHORT STORY WORKSHOP ATTENDEE

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jul 8

📣 #BIPOC Writers Find community at the Art of the Short Story—a safer space for Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, Latine, LGBTQ+ writers, led by Kweli Editor/Publisher Laura Pegram. ➤Craft seminars ➤In-class writing ➤Masterworks study ➤Peer reviews LEARN MORE at link in bio👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽

Image: quote graphic featuring a testimonial for the art of the short story workshop. Text: “The Art of the Short Story Workshop is a haven for the writer who is seeking more-more community, more clarity of instruction, an enhanced commitment to the practice of language as pathway to embodied truth telling. The atmosphere is welcoming yet never coddling. I was challenged by personalized reading and writing assignments that helped me hone my critical eye while pushing me towards the boundaries of my potential.”
-ELIZABETH SPIVEY
THE ART OF THE SHORT STORY WORKSHOP ATTENDEE

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 16

⏰ Starts TODAY! #BIPOC writers, find community at the Art of the Short Story—a safer space for Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, Latine, LGBTQ+ writers, led by Kweli Editor/Publisher Laura Pegram. ➤Craft seminars ➤In-class writing ➤Masterworks study ➤Peer reviews LEARN MORE at link in bio👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽

Image: sepia photo of a writer of color in a writing workshop setting. Text: THE ART of the
SHORT STORY WORKSHOP
RIDE
A SIX-WEEK INTENSIVE
BEGINNING MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025
ENDING MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 15

⏰ Starts TOMORROW! The Art of the Short Story, an online intensive for #BIPOC writers with Kweli Founder / Editor Laura Pegram! Part loving bootcamp, part craft seminar, this workshop features in-class writing, close study of works by authors of color, feedback + MORE. FULL DETAILS at bio link 👆🏿

Image: sepia photo of a writer of color discussing their work. Text: THE ART of the
SHORT STORY WORKSHOP
A SIX-WEEK INTENSIVE
BEGINNING MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025
ENDING MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 14

Image: sepia photo of writers of color discussing their work. Text: THE ART of the
SHORT STORY WORKSHOP
A SIX-WEEK INTENSIVE
BEGINNING MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025
ENDING MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal· Jun 12

Join us TONIGHT at @eastcitybooks.bsky.social in DC or online! Kweli’s SING THE TRUTH Book Tour continues w/ award-winning author @susanmd.bsky.social tonight, Thursday 6/12 @ 7pm. 🎟️ RSVP at link in bio 👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽