Pew Research has found that almost 80% of editorial staff, “those who work as reporters, editors, photographers and videographers in the newspaper, broadcasting and internet publishing industries,” are white.
This is one reason why countless stories written by, for, and about black people don’t make it to publication.
MAYDAY Culture Editor Carla Bell founded the Black Writers program to end this longtime discrimination and the white-washed media it produces.
Carla is committed to delivering a new experience for black writers, including those seeking first-time publication. With authenticity, curiosity, compassion, well-rounded criticism, and courageous storytelling, submitted works may range across topics of representation, race and racism, life and death, American policing, black civil rights and American Government, and more, according to writers’ passions and prerogatives. Writing may take the form of personal, first-person, braided, or reported essay; opinion, or analysis, all in contemporary or historical context. (Subjects and formats may be considered on a case-by-case basis.)
Writers may be of any citizenship status and reside anywhere in the world. Submissions written in English only, please.
Story ideas may be submitted by pitch and works may be submitted on speculation by email to carla.bell@maydaymagazine.com. Writers may also submit a pitch or story on spec at the Culture submission portal via Submittable.
There is no fee to submit, and there is no pay for published stories.
