Cover Art: Tangled, Donald Black Jr.

All it takes is for someone to drive through some of the roughest parts of Cleveland to witness the beauty and impact of Donald Black, Jr.’s photography. Black’s work is on the ground alongside the people who are from the same environment that he represents. And when you hear his story, with all of its rugged and rough edges, you’ll understand why it’s so impressive that he was able to maintain the focus needed to avoid falling into the traps that his environment steadily situated and promoted. Here, there are no stories of happy endings, white picket fences, silver spoons or long lists of impressive schools, exhibitions and awards. Instituting himself and tabulating all of his accomplishments isn’t as impressive as knowing how serious and meaningful art is to the person who is doing it to stay alive.  

Learn more about Donald Black Jr. and his work by visiting his website and watching his Artist in the Community and Keep Your American Dream videos.

Editor's Letter  |  Laura Maylene Walter

Poetry

What My Mother Means When She Says Coonwah  |  ​​Akhim Alexis
A Woman's Laugh  |  Lindsay Phillips
What It Means To Be Living | Samantha Samakande
Runaway  |  Jessica Kim
intimates |  Zach Savich
Valley of Sweet  |  travis tate
Scene XIV  |  Loisa Fenichell

---

Prose

A Body for Science  |  T. Vojnovski
The Harvest  |  Jessie Ulmer
Nursery of Stars  |  Maria Poulatha
Fried Chicken |  Tiffany Hsieh
Creatures of Habit, Habits of Creatures  |  Lisa Ferranti

---

Mentorships

Animal Cruelty |  Teri Vela (poetry)
Keep a Light On  |  Bonnie Brewer-Kraus (fiction)
Albaloo  |  S. Ferdowsi (nonfiction)

---

Youth Outlet
Twelve Literary Arts

Strict Household  |  Yadiel Mercado
My Own Lil World  |  Sarai Murdock
Trying  |  Halle Preneta

---

Gordon Square Review is a publication of Literary Cleveland, a nonprofit committed to creating a vital, diverse, and supportive literary community in Northeast Ohio. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT SUBMITTING YOUR WORK