Killens Review of Arts & Letters (Fall / Winter 2017)
Edited by Clarence V. Reynolds

Fall / Winter 2017 “Gathering at the Waters Vol. I”

As we honor the centennial birth of poet, mentor, and humanitarian Gwendolyn Brooks this past year, her poem “Paul Robeson” reminds us of the importance and interconnectedness of family and community. She ends the poem saying:

…that we are each other’s
harvest: we are each other’s
business: we are each other’s
magnitude and bond.”

The theme of “Gathering at the Waters” connotes bringing together family and communities to look at the ways in which we affect and are part of each other’s lives. The Fall/Winter 2017 issue of the Killens Review explores “connecting family through literature and art” in the works of Black writers and features narratives that tell of healing, nurturing, cleansing, and reflection in the times we live in. The issue offers an excerpt from Whatever Happened to Interracial Love?, a collection of poignant short stories that were written by the late Kathleen Collins, who was known for her groundbreaking film Losing Ground The issue also includes fiction by J. Malcolm Stewart and an excerpt from Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lines by Dick Gregory. Spotlighted is photography by Texas Isaiah, who was named one of the “12 African American Photographers You Should Follow Right Now” in Time magazine, and work of award-winning painter Njideka Akunyili Crosby.