Apogee Journal Issue 8 presents a powerful collection of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art that engages deeply with the political realities of our time. Featuring writers and artists such as Sueyeun Juliette Lee, Cortney Charleston, Kemi Alabi, Rigoberto González, and Lawrence Lek, this issue centers on themes of survival, visibility, and resistance. From the haunting reflections on Sandra Bland’s voice to Raquel Salas-Rivera’s poignant repetition, the work in this issue bears witness to the ongoing violence against marginalized bodies, especially Black and QTPOC individuals. Gary Copeland Lilley’s “The Smalltown Daily, Metro Section, Page 8, Black Lab Mistaken for Coyote” uses metaphor and allegory to address the dehumanizing ways Blackness is consumed and misrepresented, while Justine el-Khazen’s “Hummingbird Effect” grapples with the trauma of witnessing Eric Garner’s death. The issue also explores personal journeys of estrangement and assimilation, as in Rigoberto González’s reflection on heritage in “Días de los Muertos: A Oaxaca Journal” and Miriam Kumaradoss’s exploration of queer identity in “Sugar Toad.” Together, these works speak to the unrelenting challenges faced by marginalized communities, while also offering moments of defiant beauty, resilience, and truth.
