Sing the Truth: The Kweli Journal Short Story Collection

This anthology commemorates the 15th anniversary of Kweli Journal, founded to nurture, support, and encourage writers of color to speak their truth, the meaning of the Swahili word “kweli.” Edited by the publication’s founding editor and publisher Pegram, the collection’s 14 short stories delve deep into multicultural and personal themes that range from immigration outcomes to entrepreneurial results, from loss and decisions to betrayals, family dynamics, and more. All the splendid selections—with their rhythmic, perfectly selected word choices—have a magnetic pull that brings readers into situations and settings that help them better understand that many people’s life choices are limited from the start. That’s apparent in Naima Coster’s “Cold,” in which a mother of three tries to make ends meet during freezing temps. “Cleaning Lentils” by Susan Muaddi Darraj is an outstanding, astounding story about body image and revenge porn. Another memorable highlight is Kaitlyn Greenidge’s “Emperor of the Universe,” which portrays a recent widow who finds a unique way to cope with the death of her husband.