Submissions

We accept submissions on a rolling basis in the form of:

  • Personal essays
  • Lists (e.g., “Top 10 Soul Food Restaurants in the Twin Cities – see what we did there?)
  • Opinion pieces
  • Profiles of Blackasotans, past and present
  • Interviews / conversations
  • Reviews (the arts, events, books, music, etc.)
  • Creative nonfiction
  • Short fiction (500-3500 words)
  • Poetry
  • Photos / photo essays

If you have something that doesn’t readily fit into one of those categories, or a piece that crosses categories, that’s OK. Share it with us anyway. We only ask that your submission be rooted in a Minnesota-based experience in some way.

We’re also especially interested in:

  • Pieces that highlight your experiences as a someone born and raised in Minnesota
  • Reflections about why you came to Minnesota in the first place, or why you left, or left and came back;
  • Writing focused on the idea of “Black sacred spaces,” i.e., exploring what those spaces are, what they look and feel like, etc.
  • Thoughts about how being a Blackasotan intersects with other identities (gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, class, age, etc.).

If you’re interested in submitting a piece, send your idea to us at blackasotan@gmail.com. Unfortunately, we can’t offer any payment for stories at this point, but we are exploring opportunities to, further down the line, support regular contributors. In the meantime, we hope you’ll contribute your voice, wisdom and insight to this project, nonetheless.

(Some) General Guidelines

  • This site is called Blackasotan. That means we’re looking for stories from actual Black people.
  • Please make sure your piece reads well and is accessible to a broad audience.
  • We will accept reprints or cross-posts, but you have to make sure you own the rights to the original piece.
  • Ditto re: photos / photo essays. Please only submit images that you have taken and own the rights to.
  • Feel free to use a pen name if you think your post might stir up something you don’t want from family, friends, or coworkers. Because, you know, this is the Internet.