Accepting Submission for Volume 31

Theme: New Vistas: An Evolving Caribbean

The Caribbean and its diaspora cannot escape the changes taking place globally. This is of concern to those holding fast to the notion of a Caribbean cultural identity. Since the Caribbean is a hybrid culture, there are questions being raised about the extent to which hybridization is still occurring. And what are the ways our societies are expected to change. One might say there is a kind of high tech global colonialization occurring that the Caribbean is irrevocably tied into. This phenomenon is fertile ground for Caribbean writers and thinkers because it is so radically affecting the world we know.

In addition, we are plagued by the issues surrounding illegal drugs and while Caribbean society has been largely homophobic, we have also been forced to reckon with that homophobia so that the concept of gender and even family has a new edge. The religious turmoil around the world is an issue that our churches cannot ignore. Ethnicity issues of colorization and race, in the mix with class distinctions, still percolate among the people. Perhaps this will become even more so as the various races and ethnic groups interact and blend or decide not to. We cannot forget that even though we are in the Caribbean, we are under one world sky and so the state of the environment is an added concern. The powerful force of American politics is an insistent drum beat that Caribbean people dance to. As we look to new vistas, the idea of Caribbean unity glimmers some place in the distance. The Caribbean Writer is seeking works that explore the many variations of the theme— New Vistas: An Evolving Caribbean.

In Volume 31, we hope to highlight and document this phenomenon in its broadest sense. We also invite works that provide a critical and historical overview of the resilience and power of the Caribbean experience.