The Fall 2023 issue of Valley Voices includes contributions about experiences of memorable moments in the Civil Rights Movement. Robert Butler’s short memoir presents his experience as a teacher at Tougaloo College and his participation as a marcher in Port Gibson. Diane Williams remembers the riots in Newark, New Jersey, in 1967 when she was a 14-year-old girl.

Creative expressions by other writers include poetic tributes to historical figures, immigrant life, police violence, and racial crimes. Toru Kiuchi’s essay surveys the Kokura Incident and its significance as “a trigger for a true and definite integration in the Army and in the United States.” Charlie R. Braxton’s essay discusses human rights in Africa. Further, Mack Hassler’s empathetic poem about the goose and Ted McCormack’s essay about collective wisdom lead to other issues as well as harmony rather than discord in our global society.

Although Valley Voices has decided not to publish reviews anymore, it did gather a few related to the theme of the issue, including Jerome Berglund’s review of William R. Ferris’s book of photography, I Am A Man.

The theme of the 2023 spring issue of Valley Voices is “Goodbye,” which may mean departure, detachment, death, divorce, breakup, change for a new life, promising career, or bright future. There are different ways to say goodbye, such as farewell, adieu, bon voyage, or zaijian. Sometimes the word carries nuances of meaning. Pretty much the opposite of the word is badbye or sadbye, so bye can be awful, beautiful, fearful, joyful, mournful, mirthful, painful, peaceful, sorrowful, tearful, or wistful. Goodbye has been a charming theme that attracts writers to explore from different viewpoints. This special issue includes 7 fiction/nonfiction, a photo essay about the South, poetry by 24 poets, 10 book reviews, and a featured interview with DC Berry.

The call for the Fall 2022 issue of Valley Voices (v22 n2) was themed, “Where Are You From?” and meant to be a simple question that may not have a simple answer. In his introduction, John Zheng writes, “There are different answers because the question can be geographical, political, racial, and ethnic, it can also mean curiosity, attitude, suspicion, or exclusion.” This issue spotlights Mississippi Delta poet and musician Jack Crocker, and in response to the call, includes over 100 pages of nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and reviews. A full table of contents can be found for each issue on the Valley Voices‘ website. Writers – the next call for submissions ends December 30, 2022, and the theme for their spring issue is “Goodbye.”