BELOVED WORD WARRIOR: THE POWER OF TONI MORRISON’S PEN
By Cathryn McGill
“In celebrating Women’s History Month, we acknowledge Toni Morrison’s indelible legacy, where her identity as a woman and an African American is inseparable from her literary genius.”
THE BENEFITS OF LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN
By Olivia Thomas
“While some enjoy living in a big city that is a fast-paced and always feels busy, others find beauty in the simplicity that pairs with living in a small town.”
REFLECTIONS ON THE BLACK FOOTPRINT IN NEW MEXICO
By Darryl Wellington
“Let’s begin with a story that reflects my concerns that the Black presence isn’t significantly appreciated — but that simultaneously reaffirms my belief in the importance of teaching New Mexican Black history.”
HATE VALENTINE’S DAY? TRY CELEBRATING IT ANYWAY
By Monika Dziamka
“It’s a missed opportunity to let Valentine’s Day be reduced to something that’s only cheesy and commercial.”
WHERE ARE THE HUMANITIES IN THE CLIMATE CRISIS?
By Thomas Cole
“Ethics are a core Humanities discipline and Aldo Leopold’s ‘The Land Ethic’ in his 1948 A Sand County Almanac is, as Wallace Stegner wrote, ‘almost a holy book in conservation circles… one of the great love letters to the natural world.'”
A MUSLIM FITTING INTO NEW MEXICO
By Ryqir Haden
“I am a Muslim, and I belong in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Surprised? So am I.”
KRAMPUS IS COMING: WHY HALLOWEEN IS ACTUALLY JUST THE START OF SPOOKY SEASON
By Monika Dziamka
“Krampus is the spice to Santa’s sugar. Neither one is as good alone as they are when paired with the other.”
BREAD OF DEATH AND LIFE: A SHORT HISTORY OF PAN DE MUERTOS
By Vanessa Baca
“‘Bread is life.’ This platitude is among the most well-known in our culture, yet when we consider the Mexican holiday El Día de los Muertos and the food associated with that celebration, it takes on a much more significant and poignant meaning.”
SEND IN THE CLOWNS: FUNERAL HUMOR
By Liz Hamilton
“I opened the lid to her cardboard coffin to find an adorable little old lady lovingly draped with a colorful silk scarf. And I found a clown outfit inside.”
SOUTHWEST WORD FIESTA 2023
By Catalina Claussen
“The Southwest Word Fiesta offers a crossroads where writers, industry professionals, and word lovers meet to discuss the craft of written and oral expression.”