REBEL’S ZEITGEIST — WINTER 2026 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Theme: “And, Here We Are.”
Deadline: August 1, 2026
Deadline: August 1, 2026
We are now accepting submissions for our Winter 2026 digital issue.
In a moment when the ground shifts beneath our feet daily, when old certainties crumble and new urgencies rise, Rebel’s Zeitgeist asks: And, here we are. Where is here?
What truths must be spoken, what silences shattered? This issue seeks work that refuses tidy resolutions—writing that stands in the raw, unfinished now and insists on being seen, felt, and heard.
We publish work that speaks truth to power, gives a vivid reality check for today’s turbulent times, and courageously engages with subversive politics. We reject timid rhetoric and antiquated notions of how to navigate a world founded by systemic racism. We encourage writing that deconstructs, that pushes back, that is crafted with care, grounded in a love and appreciation for Black people.
Guest editors will be announced in July. Follow us on social media and/or sign up for our mailing list for the announcement.
Be sure to read our previous issues. We are a digital literary magazine.
In a moment when the ground shifts beneath our feet daily, when old certainties crumble and new urgencies rise, Rebel’s Zeitgeist asks: And, here we are. Where is here?
What truths must be spoken, what silences shattered? This issue seeks work that refuses tidy resolutions—writing that stands in the raw, unfinished now and insists on being seen, felt, and heard.
We publish work that speaks truth to power, gives a vivid reality check for today’s turbulent times, and courageously engages with subversive politics. We reject timid rhetoric and antiquated notions of how to navigate a world founded by systemic racism. We encourage writing that deconstructs, that pushes back, that is crafted with care, grounded in a love and appreciation for Black people.
Guest editors will be announced in July. Follow us on social media and/or sign up for our mailing list for the announcement.
Be sure to read our previous issues. We are a digital literary magazine.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES & GUIDELINES
All work must be previously unpublished and not generated in any sense by AI (see affidavit requirement below).
Fiction
- Up to 2,000 words OR 5 pages (whichever comes first). No AI-generated content.
Creative Nonfiction
- Up to 2,000 words OR 5 pages (whichever comes first). Include a Works Cited page for any sources. No AI-generated content.
Book/Film Reviews
- Up to 2,000 words OR 5 pages (whichever comes first). Include a Works Cited page. No AI-generated content.
Plays
- Up to 20 pages of a one-act play that features Black characters. Include workshop, reading and production history for a possible folio feature if work is accepted. Absolutely no AI generated content.
Poetry
- Up to 3 poems, max 10 pages total. No AI-generated content.
FORMAT & SUBMISSION RULES
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Submit in one genre only (per submission period).
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Place all work in a single Word document.
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Number your pages.
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No fee to submit.
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Multiple submissions will not be accepted—please send only one submission per writer for this issue.
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The submission form will ask for your contact information (name, email, bio).
AFFIDAVIT REQUIREMENT FOR ACCEPTED AUTHORS
If your work is accepted, you will be asked to sign a brief affidavit verifying:
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You did not create your work using AI (generative or otherwise).
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You are the sole creator of the work.
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You give permission to have the work published by Rebel’s Zeitgeist.
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Rebel’s Zeitgeist is published by Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman for Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice, Inc. (BWPSJ) — a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
BWPSJ’s mission: Cultivate a community of writers, educators, and artists who use craft to advance equity, peace, and justice. Through advocacy, education, and creative expression, we inspire systemic change, amplify marginalized voices, and empower communities to build a more inclusive and equitable society.
Our vision: A world where stories are tools for liberation, the arts are central to social justice movements, and diverse voices lead the way toward understanding, empathy, justice, and equity.
Rebel’s Zeitgeist amplifies voices exploring social justice, radical resistance, and the revolutionary liminal spaces that shape identity. We publish work that challenges the status quo, offers new perspectives on systemic injustices, and celebrates the rich diversity of the Black experience.
BWPSJ’s mission: Cultivate a community of writers, educators, and artists who use craft to advance equity, peace, and justice. Through advocacy, education, and creative expression, we inspire systemic change, amplify marginalized voices, and empower communities to build a more inclusive and equitable society.
Our vision: A world where stories are tools for liberation, the arts are central to social justice movements, and diverse voices lead the way toward understanding, empathy, justice, and equity.
Rebel’s Zeitgeist amplifies voices exploring social justice, radical resistance, and the revolutionary liminal spaces that shape identity. We publish work that challenges the status quo, offers new perspectives on systemic injustices, and celebrates the rich diversity of the Black experience.