“More than three-quarters (77%) of newsroom employees – those who work as reporters, editors, photographers and videographers in the newspaper, broadcasting, and internet publishing industries – are non-Hispanic whites.” (Pew Research) 

This segregation drives and ensures a standard of media production that fails spectacularly to capture and reflect the experiences, ideas, and interests of Black people in America. 

Passionate to disrupt this long-time, strategic, and exclusionary media practice, Carla Bell, founding director of MAYDAY:Black, set out to honor and elevate stories written by, for, and about Black people – a fresh experience for all readers, and certainly for Black writers, including those seeking first-time publication. 

Whether we’re discussing the January 6th Capitol Attack and Insurrection, inequities in Boston public schools, or The Black Manifesto, at MAYDAY:Black, the Black writer, Black voice, and Black story are invited, encouraged, supported, and prioritized. 

We welcome nonfiction work in opinions and analyses; personal, braided, and reported essays in contemporary and historical contexts. 

Bring your authentic, curious, courageous, well-rounded stories on life, living, love, loss, representation, race, racism, death, dying, Black plight and civil rights, neighborhood blight, gentrification, white flight, and more. (In no way is this an exhaustive list!)

Pitch MD:B story ideas to carla.bell@newamericanpress.com, and send MD:B story drafts (800 to 3,000 words) via Submittable at no cost from anywhere in the world. English only, please.