G.R.I.T.S. - Girls Raised In the South: An Anthology of Southern Queer Womyns’ Voices and Their Allies
by Poet On Watch

This cutting-edge anthology, G.R.I.T.S : Girls Raised In The South - An Anthology of Southern Queer Womyns’ Voices and Their Allies, edited by Poet On Watch & Amber N. Williams, can be compared to the pioneering anthology Home Girls which featured writings by Black feminist and lesbian activists on topics both provocative and profound. G.R.I.T.S. is a critical self-analysis and celebration with multicultural queer women voices and their allies through essays, short stories, poetry, photo stories and healing comfort recipes. The perspectives are of womyn who live in the Southern region of the United States and/or have a strong affinity for this locale. The theme of the publication surrounds the subject matter of erotica while enjoying food, our connection to the South, the bonds created between lovers, and in sisterhood, personal growth, be it spiritual or otherwise and our best G.R.I.T.S recipes. Come and sit a while on the porch and bask in this Southern hospitality. We have the iced tea waiting. Welcome to our lives.

Excerpt: Kesi’ Shaw’s “Black Hollywood (The Oscar Poem)”

In 2001, Halle Berry won the prestigious award
for her role in Monster&rsquos Ball
Was it because her bare breast brought
back memories of white slave masters
sneaking into slave quarters after dark
to test the theory &ldqu”o;the darker the berry,
the sweeter the juice?
Or was it her vulnerability that allowed her
to beg Billy Bob Thornton to “make me feel good”
that sounded so familiar?
So you mean to tell me
Her strong willed-determined-to-overcome-adversity persona
in Things We Lost in the Fire
and Losing Isaiah were not worthy?
Her command of respect and acknowledgment
in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
was not worthy?
But getting naked and fucking a white man
on the couch is an award-winning
performance