Editor’s Letter #1
Hi Misters!
It’s me again! Yay!
It’s a sunny day here in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and the heat is beginning to become unbearable. If you're in the same boat, I have a quick treat for you: blend half of a watermelon on high until smooth with two tablespoons of condensed milk, pour over ice, and enjoy!
Now, with drinks in hand, let's get into it.
Submissions for issue three of Mister have officially closed! Thank you endlessly for your true-to-life stories and compelling artwork. We are blown away by the level of care and talent that came through as you answered the call of this issue. I am forever grateful for those of you who have made Mister a home for your work.
If you missed the deadline to submit, don’t sweat it—our web submissions are open all days of the year. And if you're working on something that you feel has an otherworldly tie to the themes and language of our print issue, shoot us an email! We would love to work something out.
We strive to have our work reflect the learning and advocacy we enact in our daily lives. As our community grows larger and larger, so does our responsibility to use our platform in meaningful ways. While atrocities across the world continue to unfold, we must not let our fear or hopelessness immobilize us. At a time when famine and genocide are more documented than ever, it is our unequivocal obligation to come together as a collective and create tangible good.
Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots movement aiding in the amplification of verified mutual aid links and GoFundMes for Palestinian relief. Through OOB, you can be paired with a family in Gaza and create a campaign to help them reach their goal. I also urge you to feel just as energized in your advocacy for the people of Sudan, Congo, and those across the African diaspora whose struggles are directly tied to the comforts allotted to us in the occupied West. Please donate to https://sapa-usa.org/ to boost aid efforts in Sudan and join the #FreeCongo movement by going to https://friendsofthecongo.org and taking the actions under the “Congo Campaign” page.
I hope that you all are being held by love this afternoon and for days to come. Eid Mubarak to all who celebrate! May Allah protect those in strife and grant you and your loved ones barakah.
We love you!
Fatima Swaray
