The Sealey Challenge is upon us! The Sealey Challenge, begun by noted poet Nicole Sealey in 2017, asks readers to try to read a poetry book a day for the month of August. In particular, they ask you to consider marginalized writers, such as those queer, BIPOC, disabled, or otherwise disfranchised. It has spread like wildfire all over social media and beyond, and you can even grab Sealey Challenge Bingo cards and Certificates now!
We’ve created a list of queer BIPOC poetry books from Lambda fellows, finalists, Writers in Schools authors, faculty, and staff. And remember, the keyword is challenge. If you miss a day or even a week, it’s fine. Be generous with yourselves and push at your own pace. The Sealey Challenge is as much a celebration and community event as it is an accomplishment.
Learn more about the Sealey Challenge here!
Books from Lambda Literary Fellows, Staff, Faculty, and WIS authors:
- Aldo Amparán, Brother Sleep, Alice James Books
- Kay Ulanday Barrett, More Than Organs, Sibling Rivalry Press, LLC
- Samiya Bashir, Field Theories, Nightboat Press
- Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Cenzontle, BOA Edition
- Wo Chan, Togetherness, Nightboat Books
- Michael Chang, Boyfriend Perspective, Really Serious Literature
- Chen Chen, When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities, BOA Editions
- Noah Arhm Choi, Cut to Bloom, Write Bloody Publishing
- Chekwube Danladi, Semiotics: Poems, University of Georgia Press
- Jayy Dodd, The Black Condition Ft. Narcissus, Nightboat Books
- Benjamin Garcia, Thrown in the Throat, Milkweed Editions
- Suzi F. Garcia, Homegrown Fairytale, Bone Bouquet Press
- Faylita Hicks, Hoodwitch, Acre Books
- Kamden Ishmael Hilliard, Misssettl, Nightboat Books
- Taylor Johnson, Inheritance, Alice James Books
- Saeed Jones, Alive at the End of the World, Coffee House Press
- Aurielle Marie, Gumbo YA YA: Poems, University of Pittsburgh Press
- Roya Marsh, dayliGht, MCD X Fsg Originals
- James Fujinami Moore, Indecent Hours, Four Way Books
- Cynthia Dewi Oka, Fire is not a Country, Triquarterly Books
- Ife-Chudeni A. Oputa, Rummage, Little a
- Tommy Pico, Nature Poem, Tin House Books
- Brynne Rebele-Henry, Prelude: Poems, University of Pittsburgh Press
- Gabrielle Octavia Rucker, Dereliction, Song Cave
- Courtney Faye Taylor, Concentrate: Poems, Graywolf Press
- Paul Tran, All the Flowers Kneeling, Penguin Books
- Chris Tse, Super Model Minority, Auckland University Press
- Natalie Wee, Beast at Every Threshold, Arsenal Pulp Press
- Phillip B. Williams, Ours, Viking
- Shelley Wong, As She Appears, YesYes Books
- Jade Yeung, Anti, Black Warrior Review
Check out more poetry posts from the Lambda Literary Review here!
