Freedom Papers

This is more than just a blog- it’s a movement. We are reclaiming narratives, amplifying marginalized voices, and advancing a vision of liberation that is intersectional, decolonized, and rooted in our lived experiences.

By Angel Torres Yolande Tomlinson By Angel Torres Yolande Tomlinson

Atlanta's Ticking Timebomb

Climate change is one of the most important environmental issues the Black community faces. Black communities are unfairly burdened by the health effects of climate change, including deaths during heat waves and sickness caused by growing air pollution. Climate change issues are not currently being addressed in a fair and equitable manner. There is a lack of inclusiveness in the current climate change narrative, and the way of addressing these issues exacerbate existing inequalities.

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Write for Freedom Papers – Share Your Voice, Shift the Narrative!

Freedom Papers is a platform for original commentary, analysis, and storytelling from a grassroots organizing and movement-based perspective. We center an intersectional human rights lens—uplifting the interconnections between race, gender, class, sexuality, disability, indigeneity, and more to advocate for a radically progressive human rights agenda.

We embrace a Radical Queer Black Feminist (RQBF) guiding framework and a spiritual foundation rooted in the sustainability of Mother Earth, human needs and desires, and the struggles for their full realization as defining the fullest extent of human rights. We welcome decolonizing and anti-imperialist perspectives on intersectional human rights.

Who Should Submit?

We seek contributors who are passionate about human rights, liberation movements, and justice, and who use their writing to challenge oppressive systems. We welcome a variety of formats, including:

  • Essays & Analysis

  • Poetry & Creative Writing

  • Book & Media Reviews

  • Interviews & Short Stories

We strive for maximum accessibility, which means entries should be plainspoken, grounded in real-world examples, and written for a general audience (advanced high school level and up).

Submission Guidelines

    • Freedom Papers reserves exclusive rights of review. Submissions must not be under review elsewhere.

    • All authors retain full copyright of their work and grant Freedom Papers the right of first publication. If published elsewhere later, the article must credit Freedom Papers with visible attribution or a direct link.

    • Contributors are required to submit a new piece once per month (or as commissioned).

    • The review process includes:
      -Two weeks for the contributor to write and submit a full, complete version.
      -One week for peer review and feedback from at least two other contributors.
      -One week for the author to revise and resubmit before publication.

    • The goal is to publish at least one post per week, and all updated submission timelines will be shared in advance.

    • Essays & Interviews: 1400-1600 words (longer pieces may be published as a series).

    • Fiction & Creative Works: No strict word limit, up to the author’s discretion.

    • Style Guide: We recommend using The Chicago Manual of Style and The Diversity Style Guide for consistency in formatting, citations, and terminology.

    • Contributors are invited to submit posts based on any human rights topic, from a local, regional, Indigenous/national, or international/global perspective.

    • Include keyword tags relevant to your post for searchability.

    • Provide a short description (max 150 characters) summarizing your entry.

    • A short (one-paragraph) bio that includes your background, affiliations, previous publications, or any relevant experience.

    • A high-quality photo of yourself for publication.

    • Optional images to complement your post (must include credit and permission for use).

Submission Process

Send all entries to FreedomPapers@ohrdemocracy.org with the subject line: "Freedom Papers Submission – [Your Title]".