Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice is excited to announce a call for submissions for our quarterly digital publication, The Rebel’s Zeitgeist.

We invite Black writers from around the world to submit their original poetry, short fiction, essays, book reviews, short plays, and music reviews for consideration for our Spring 2026 issue. Our journal is dedicated to amplifying voices that explore themes of social justice, radical resistance, and the revolutionary liminal spaces that shape identity.The Rebel’s Zeitgeist seeks to publish work that challenges the status quo, offers new perspectives on systemic injustices, and celebrates the rich diversity of the Black experience. The Spring 2026 issue's theme is, "Beyond the Bearing of Witness." Contributors will be those who have work that speaks to the nature of resistance and the fight for liberation. We will be accepting poems, essays, and short stories.  

We welcome writers Synnika Alek-Chizoba Lofton and Khari Dawson as guest editors of this issue. Synnika Alek-Chizoba Lofton is an award-winning poet, educator, and publisher. Lofton is the author of more than 35 collections of poetry and more than 177 spoken word albums. His poems have appeared in Clock House Journal, Revenge, UpStreet, Experience Reality Magazine, Quay, Dissident Voice, The Skinny Poetry Journal, Mid-Atlantic Review, and Blue-Collar Review. In 2024, his poem “To Honor Her Bold Walk” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Khari Dawson is a multi-genre writer and musician based in Maryland. Published in multiple publications, including the 2025 Jan/Feb issue of POETRY magazine, she has enjoyed support for her work through grants and fellowship opportunities with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Art Under a Minute program, the Martha’s Vineyard Creative Writing Institute, and the Smithsonian exhibit project, “Gen Z Speaks: A Right to the City.” She is a 2024 Watering Hole Poetry fellow.

We are particularly interested in pieces that:

• Poetry: Captures the essence of resistance and resilience through evocative and powerful verse.
• Short Fiction: Tells compelling stories that highlight struggles and triumphs in the fight for justice and equality.
• Essays: Provides insightful analysis and commentary on contemporary social issues and historical events impacting Black communities.
• Book Reviews: Critically examines works by Black authors, focusing on themes of social justice and transformative change.
• Short Plays: Presents dramatic works that engage with revolutionary ideas and the complexities of identity.
• Music Reviews: Analyzes and discusses music and artists that push through conventions with sonic innovation and creativity.

We welcome submissions from both emerging and established writers who are passionate about using their craft to promote peace and social justice. Each piece should reflect a commitment to these ideals and contribute to the ongoing dialogue around equity and liberation.

Submission Guidelines:

Format: Submissions must be in digital format (Word or PDF).

Length:

Poetry: Up to 3 poems, not exceeding 100 lines in total.

Short Fiction: Up to 5,000 words.

Essays: Up to 3,000 words.

Book Reviews: Up to 1,500 words.

Short Plays: Up to 20 pages.

Music Reviews: Up to 1,500 words.

Deadline: The call for submissions opens on Nov. 1, 2025 and closes on Jan. 15, 2026.

How to Submit: Send your submisstion to submissions [at] blackwritersforpeace.org with the subject line “Submission: [Category] – [Your Name]”.


Guest editors will be announced in 2026.


The Rebel’s Zeitgeist – where words become a force for change. Read our first issue.