Message to Our Readers:

Renaissance was the obvious choice for the theme of Blackstar*’s Fall 2022 issue. It resonated immediately with our team for how fitting and grand it was. Renaissance gave us the opportunity to imagine Black life and art through a fresh lens and most importantly, envision what a rebirth meant to Blackstar* in particular.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced our team to temporarily halt production as quarantine slowed everything down and made content creation nearly impossible. However, Blackstar* was never dead – only quiet. During this period, we strived toward actively making content again.

With our theme, we were able to explore a concept that represented the relaunch. We wanted to reimagine a liberated future and what that looks like to us. Through drawing inspiration from Black art, music, poetry, literature, and photography — we were finally able to do so.

Although the process was difficult, with our dedicated team members, Blackstar* was able to bring to life our own vision of a Black Renaissance. Without the support from our team, faculty and staff, and the rest of Black Emory this would not have been possible. Our executive board is extremely grateful and cannot wait to continue showcasing Black creativity and talent. Thank you everyone!

- Yokie Abera (Co-Editor-in-Chief), Lucinda Jeune

One, two, three… thirty women sitting

At a round table

The common denominator is race I observe –

Red hair, fresh braids, new lace

Glimpses of colored crowns swinging around the loud laughs and louder conversations

About our weeks and that professor who wouldn’t quit About our hall and “oh, where’d you get that ‘fit?”

A room brimming with warmth

Pouring into ourselves the love we crave I observe community;

The loneliness of an empty embrace, The irony of our every day

Giving all when given naught

Then wondering why we feel this way

Apologizing for existing Sorry,Ican’texplainit.

Iobservelove

Loud silence.

The sound of unspoken words, Surreptitious glances at conspicuous long sleeves and turtlenecks in Georgia's heat.

Invisible wounds bared

A cry for help muttered disguised with a humorless laugh

The strength to share awakened because community knows and community cares

“I keep losing myself when I just found her” the consensus shouts in silence.

A cycle-- not our first.

Survivors burning up the shame rhetoric I observe Pain.

And then, the room is filled with an inexplicable charge, Conversations hardly keeping up with the ambition.

“Heard about the Afrotech conference downtown?”

Let me put you on –

We work hard

Finding comfort in one another.

The only way in is the path we pave. So we push the limits

Determined to succeed

I observe the hustle.

We fight against a system created against us

Carving out our place in spaces that refuse to welcome us

An uphill battle against racism, sexism, colorism

Misogynoir-ism

It’s a battle we will win

One we are winning

Because Black women are nothing if not strong

Only thing the world agrees with us on “Black women are nothing if not strong.”

Said in disregard of our cries during labor

“Black women are nothing if not strong.”

In disdain of our bodies

“Black women are nothing if not strong.”

We say, as we take our seats at the head of the table and make those exclusive spaces ours I observe strength.

And when we pause We breathe

Comfortable without the burden of expectations

To be a lover, mother, fighter, sista

Superhumans need rest too

So we lean on ourselves

For one selfish moment.

One, two, three… thirty black women

Whispers of different conversations meet me as I write

Belly laughs and blinding smiles

Happy, fearless, ambitious, powerful black women

The common denominator seems lost

But I look over the room and smile