the name:
 

The reasons behind the name are many. It is part tribute to N’tozake Shange’s classic, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuff. It is part reminder of the segregated American South’s notorious "For Colored Only" signs. It is a throwback to the sexist practice of referring to adult women as "girls" and to era specific customs that dictate brown skinned people "colored". It is a name that celebrates the term "woman of color"; a term that speaks inclusively and exclusively to women of the African, Asian and Caribbean Diaspora and Indian, Middle Eastern, Native American and Latina women. It has the breadth of a worldwide embrace.

The decision to keep the name in all lowercase letters was initially a style preference. However, it also reinforces the misbegotten notion that women of color are somehow "less than" when judging the value of our words, work and worth. In truth, our creative selves are boundless and our creative value is priceless.

In short the name coloredgirls is an act of resistance and an act of love.

 
 the site:
 

coloredgirls.com is dedicated to a female audience of color passionate about books and writing. Inspired by the dearth of attention paid to female African American writers, save a handful of literary giants and hordes of post Terry McMillian popular fiction writers, coloredgirls.com seeks to challenge the recent publishing industry "discovery" that Black women read–and then take that "discovery" to the next level. Indeed, women of color as a whole are disregarded as serious readers. Not only are African American, Caribbean, South East Asian, Indian, Latina, Chicana, Native American and other women of color serious readers and writers, but we are not limited to a particular type of writing, nor are we limited to reading only about our selves.

coloredgirls is a space for the work of emerging and established writers, interviews with authors, and book reviews. Books about, by, and for women of color are highlighted -- along with anything else we find interesting in the world of words.

Women of color routinely defy the narrow scope that the publishing industry has determined to be of interest to us as readers and writers. The sci-fi success of Octavia Butler and Nalo Hopkinson; the literary fiction of Edwidge Danticat, Chitra Banerjee DivaKaruni, and Mai Ng; the memoirs of Esmeralda Santiago, Asha Bandele, and Waris Dirie; and the critical essays of Julia Alvarez, Gayatri Spivak and bell hooks all attest to the fact that we are reading and writing myriad things.

 
 writer's guidelines:
 

coloredgirls.com publishes critical essays and feature articles on personal, social and political issues of interest to women of color. We want your words --- but not just any old any thing. coloredgirls.com is committed to quality, cutting edge, well-written work. We admire wit, depth and timeliness. In short be on point.

Make sure the work you submit brings new light or a different angle to whatever it is you are ruminating on. Please review the site before you submit work to make sure it is appropriate.

We publish original work only.

Manuscripts should approximate 600, but not exceed 800 words. Longer pieces will be considered for "in part" publication.

All work should be submitted in the body of an email (or attached as a Word document) to submissions@coloredgirls.com. Be sure to include your name and daytime telephone number. Please provide a brief bio so we can big you up on the site.

All work will be copyright coloredgirls.com and your name. For example:

Copyright 2001. coloredgirls.com and Tasha Jones. All rights reserved.

At this time, we can only offer your byline as compensation. But we are working on it.

All work is subject to editorial changes. If your work is selected for publication, we will contact you. At this time we do not accept poetry submissions. Thanks.

 
 book review guidelines:
 

coloredgirls.com is currently seeking avid readers to become reviewers for our site. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer for coloredgirls.com, please send us a short sample review in the body of an email (or attached as a Word document) to bookreviews@coloredgirls.com. Please check out the site before you submit work to make sure it is appropriate.

Book reviews should approximate 400, but not exceed 500 words. Don't forget to rate the book on a scale of 1 to 5, five being the best. You don't have to write only about the books you love, send us your critical pieces too. However, be sure to support whatever you commit to the page with solid critique using examples from the text if it will make your point stronger.

Even though we sometimes get caught up in them ourselves, try to steer clear of overused cliches. Some examples: "a good read," "a page turner," "a heartbreaking work of staggering genius." Nah mean? coloredgirls.com publishes original work only.

Please include all relevant contact info including daytime telephone number, email address and full name.

All work will be copyright coloredgirls.com and your name. For example:

Copyright 2001. coloredgirls.com and Tasha Jones. All rights reserved.

At this time, we can offer you no payment other than your byline. But we are working on it.

All work is subject to editorial changes. If your work is selected for publication, we will contact you. Thank you.

 
 contact us