Zines by People of Color

Reviews of zines on the black history of punk & DIY home buying

By Celia C. Perez -- Library Journal, 11/05/2009

I first learned about zines in the early 1990s through Sassy, the now-defunct magazine that has achieved cult status among thousands of women who, as teenagers, sought an alternative to the homogenous Seventeen and the condescending YM. However, not until my undergraduate days when I developed an interest in punk did I venture into the world of zines myself. There, I found myself one of a small number of nonwhite zine writers.

It isn't a secret that there aren't many zines by people of color—African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, American Indians, and Arab Americans. By virtue of their underground history and connection to the subculture of punk, zines tend to fall outside the radar of the average person, and this is even more the case for populations that have little presence in punk.

The zines reviewed in this column are all by people of color. While most address the themes of identity, race, and culture to some extent, this is where the similarities end. Each sheds light on the universal struggles of people, as well as the individual problems and joys in their lives.

Atoe, Osa. Shotgun Seamstress #3. 2009. 40p. ½ legal. $3. Distros: Paper Trail | Stranger Danger
Shotgun Seamstress is a prime example of the important role of zines in building community. Through thoughtful, provocative features and absorbing interviews, Atoe documents the infrequently exposed and virtually unknown history of black people involved in punk rock. Her third issue includes interviews with photographer Alvin Baltrop and musician Mick Collins (The Gories), among others. Atoe writes unflinchingly about race and class and, with a critical eye, questions how these converge in music and activism. Highly recommended for readers interested in music, activism, punk, or African American history.

Chenault, Silvia. Paco #1. 2006. 45p. ½ size. $5. ilovechebang@yahoo.com
These touching recollections about family and friendship center on the theme of nicknames. Chenault writes about the monikers given to her over the years, from those lovingly bestowed by family members (Silvi Marie) to those created in anger by classmates (50-50). An artist, Chenault illustrates the zine with distinctive paper-cut images and bold collages. In addition to a handy Spanish-English glossary at the end of the zine, there is a wonderfully detailed foldout family tree of nicknames. Recommend for all readers.

Eeva, Johanna. No History, No Self. 2009. 36p. ½ size. $1.50. Distros: Marching Stars (UK) | Stranger Danger
Eeva goes way back in the zine scene, having published and contributed to 25 or so zines, including her own Yawp!, which she launched in high school. In her latest, she revisits her struggles with self-identity and outside perceptions, this time as an American living in England. You feel Eeva’s homesickness for her native New York in her writings on the difficulty of forming new friendships and on coping with depression in a new environment. Also included is an insightful essay about the history of the Philippines through the lens of an American education.

Gonzalez, Nyky. Skinned Heart #1. 2008. 44p. ½ size. $2. Distros: Paper Trail | Stranger Danger
Gonzalez bravely reveals her history of mental illness and sexual abuse. She writes of taking charge of her mental health through natural means and of dealing with people who question her cultural authenticity. Skinned Heart is not only aesthetically old-school, with its cut-and-paste text and graphics, it also harkens back to the heart-on-sleeve battle cry days of riot grrrl perzines.

Hope, Kisha & Dave Fried. Fort Mortgage: Punx Buyin’ a House #1. 2008. 40p. ½ size. $4. Distros: Microcosm | QZAP free pdf | Stranger Danger
If you’ve ever found yourself hoping someone would make a DIY home-buying zine, you’re in luck! Fort Mortgage is part perzine, part guide to buying realty. With a sense of humor, Hope and Fried take readers through the roller coaster of home buying from start to finish. Anyone who doubts that you can be punk and do “grown-up” things like own a home will be pleasantly surprised by Fort Mortgage. Hope also writes A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Life and If I Could Live in Hope: Sexual Abuse and Survival.

King, Nia. Borderlands #2. 2008. 36p. ½ size. $2. Distros: QZAP free pdf | Stranger Danger
One might assume that in the age of Obama, discussions of race are null and void, but the pieces in this zine prove otherwise. The contributors—mixed-race, bicultural, and transracially adopted individuals—write passionately about their struggles with self-identify in a society that often prefers to put everyone and everything in its proper categorical box. King is also the author of the perzines Angry Black-White Girl and The First 7-inch Was Better.

Melton, LaMesha. Cocoa/Puss #2. 2009. 38p. ½ size. $3. Distro: Etsy
This zine is so filled with personality you get the feeling that the writer is in the room with you. Melton brings the perfect amount of humor to serious topics. Writing from the perspective of a feminist single mama, she tackles the subjects of STDs, contraceptives, sexual abuse, cultural identity, and the rising rate of HIV/AIDS among African Americans. As Melton makes clear, the zine contains adult content and is not recommended for children or teens.

Moniz, Tomas. Rad Dad #14. 2009. 24p. ½ size. $3. Distros: Quimby's | Microcosm
It's no wonder Rad Dad won the 2009 Utne Independent Press Award for Best Zine. In just a few pages, Moniz and his contributors manage to turn traditional notions of parenthood and family on their heads. Addressing societal and cultural issues in the context of raising kids, each piece opens the door for dialog, acknowledging the common fears and struggles of parents and seeking solutions through community to raise a more caring and open-minded future generation. Recommended for parents, child-care workers, and activists.

Note: You can usually buy the zine directly from the creator.