Editors’ Note

Dear readers,

Way back in January, when we chose the theme of “community” for this first issue of Young Radish, we had no idea we were about to be plunged into a global pandemic, and that we would need to fight even harder to demand that Black Lives Matter and thrive in this country.

While the inequities of our current state have long existed and stand on the legacy of a long history of violence, we would argue that they have been brought even more prominently into public view. The young artists of Young Radish bear witness to this.

As Lizeth says in her powerful poem “The Injustices We Call Justices”: “Things be getting overlooked, no justice here.” In “stuck,” Jasmine writes: “Why do i feel like this system is made is made to kill me … I dream of a world where equity is key.” Uyen mourns those who have died because of COVID-19, as well as the loss of our mourning rituals, in the sculpture “The dead are not buried because of the virus,” in which the artist’s shadow hovers over the open lid of a pastel coffin. “You don’t realize how much you love something until it’s gone,” writes Pearl in “I remember when.”

And yet these pandemics have also brought powerful moments of solidarity and community, whether in the present day or emerging from memory. “The sense of community in each district is astounding,” writes Daniela, in “Welcome to San Francisco.” Nina portrays “My Nana, / With her kind eyes / And soft / Warm, wrinkled / Hands.” Three friends look up at the night sky together in Ani’s “Stargazing.” Nikki McClure, our featured adult artist for this issue, presents three beautiful papercut visions of community, including fists raised to the sky in “Everything Depends on THIS Depends on Everything.” 

We are so grateful to the young people who shared their poetry and art with us, from Boston to San Francisco, from Washington State to Montréal, as well as the adults who supported them to make art and submit their work. To our artists and writers we say: your vision matters. By bringing your creations into the world, you are calling a new way into existence. 

Thank you as well to our generous inaugural donors. Young Radish is run by volunteers, and will always be available to the public free of charge. You yourself can make a donation to keep Young Radish going, if you are able!

We hope you enjoy and share these young artists’ and poets’ work widely. And make sure to sign up for our mailing list below, and follow us on Facebook, if you haven’t already.

In love and solidarity,

Lisa, Cicia, and Eric
Young Radish Co-Editors