sx salon 14

Our fall issue of sx salon exhibits the variety of Caribbean cultural production. Our discussion section features an essay by poet and author Kei Miller on dub poetry and the “sort of life” it may continue to have in the diasporas. With an eye toward the element of home in the Caribbean diaspora, choreographer Chris Walker and poet Danez Smith blend word and dance as they ask what it means when home is no longer a safe place. Our third essay continues with the question of diaspora as Bernard James examines the tenuous and often fraught connections between Caribbean Americans and African Americans.

Our reviews in this issue are split between fiction and what we may sometimes wish to be fiction. Sandy Alenxandre introduces us to the first novel from Haitian American author Elsie Augustave, while Maja Horn reviews Junot Díaz’s return to Yunior in This Is How You Lose Her. Garfield Ellis reflects on “master storyteller” Anthony Winkler’s turn to historical fiction, with his signature humor. We also consider nonfictional narratives of history with Suzanne Uzzilia’s review of Sugar in the Blood, by Andrea Stuart, and Abolition and Plantation Management in Jamaica, 1807–1838, by Dave St. Aubyn Gosse. Bringing that narrative into the present, Taurean Webb discusses Britain’s Black Debt: Reparations for Caribbean Slavery and Native Genocide by Hilary Beckles, to whom Geoffrey Philp dedicates his poem in this issue, “Busha Day Done.” We also feature poetry from emerging poets Kevin Browne and Enzo Silon Surin, as well as from well-known poet, writer, and activist Patrick Sylvain.

In our Poetry & Prose section we also announce the short list and winners for each category of the 2013 Small Axe Literary Competition. The winners of the 2013 competition:

• In the Short Fiction category, first prize goes to Ruel Johnson and second prize to Lesley-Ann Wanliss.
• In the Poetry category, first prize goes to Vladimir Lucien and second prize to Ruel Johnson.

Please join us in congratulating the writers and poets on our short list as well as our winners. We wish you all the best for the coming holidays and hope you enjoy this fall issue of sx salon (table of contents below).

Kelly Baker Josephs

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Table of Contents

Introduction and Table of Contents—Kelly Baker Josephs

Reviews

God Carlos and The Family Mansion, by Anthony Winkler—Garfield Ellis
The Roving Tree, by Elsie Augustave—Sandy Alexandre
This Is How You Lose Her, by Junot Díaz—Maja Horn
Britain’s Black Debt: Reparations for Caribbean Slavery and Native Genocide, by Hilary Beckles—Taurean Webb
Sugar in the Blood: A Family’s Story of Slavery and Empire, by Andrea Stuart, and Abolition and Plantation Management in Jamaica, 1807–1838, by Dave St Aubyn Gosse—Suzanne Uzzilia

Discussion articles

A Smaller Sound, a Lesser Fury: A Eulogy for Dub Poetry—Kei Miller
Facing Home, a Phobia: A Reflection on “In My Shadow”—Chris Walker, with Danez Smith
Fortifications for a Wobbly Bridge—Bernard James

Poetry

Patrick Sylvain
Kevin A. Browne
Enzo Silon Surin
Geoffrey Philp