Broadside Lotus Press

26/03/2026

Saturday is World Poetry Day, an opportunity to celebrate the unique ability of poetry to provide comfort and inspiration.

Practiced throughout history in every culture and on every continent, poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming the simplest words into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace.

What is your favourite poem? Tell us in the comments!

20/03/2026

Join us for a talk with Dr. Joanne Godley, winner of the Naomi Long Madgett poetry book award. Marrch 25, 6:00 pm. Scan the QR codes in the flyer or register at this link https://udmercy-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/6G-oMkTZQ2yMcK9DyzAMPQ #/registration

15/03/2026

Please get your copy and register to join us for this virtual event as we discuss the beautiful work of Dr. Joanne Godley, 2025 Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award winner! Welcome to the 60 year legacy of literacy excellence Dr. Godley!

09/03/2026

DEADLINE APPROACHING!

**ATTENTION**
Guidelines for the Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award
March 15, 2026 Deadline
Winning Manuscript Announced Summer 2026
Book Published Winter 2027
 This competition is open to African American poets only. If you have already had a book
published by Lotus Press or Broadside Press, you are ineligible. However, inclusion in
a Lotus Press or Broadside Press anthology does not disqualify you.
 Any other serious African American poet, whether previously published or not, may
submit a book-length manuscript for consideration. Do not include illustrations, essays,
short fiction, or other material that is not poetry.
 Poems submitted by another person, anthologies, or collaborations by more than one poet
are not acceptable.
 There is no reading fee; no payment is required.
 The poems in the manuscript should total approximately 60-90 pages, exclusive of a table
of contents or other optional introductory material. Begin each poem, single-spaced, on
a new page, no matter how short it may be. If the poem is long, it may be continued on
the next page(s).
 Use an easy-to-read font such as Times or Times New Roman, size 12 point. Single-space
except between stanzas.
 Poems that have been published individually in periodicals or anthologies are acceptable,
but we will not consider an entire collection (or a significant portion of an entire
collection) that has been previously published, whether self-published or not.
 Manuscripts entered in this competition may not be submitted to other publishers for
general consideration, but may be submitted to other contests, as long as you notify us
that you have done so or plan to do so. If you are notified that your manuscript has
won another competition, you MUST inform us of this immediately.
 Send two complete copies of your manuscript, typed or computer-generated, on white,
letter-size paper, with the pages consecutively numbered, to the address below. Do not
include your name on any of the pages.
 Include with each copy a cover sheet that contains the title of the collection only and no
other information.
 On one separate sheet of paper, list: (1) the title of the manuscript; (2) your name,
address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address, and (3) a brief statement signed with
your legal name, indicating that (a) all the poems in the collection are original and
uncollected (not appearing in a published volume of your work) and (b) you are an
African American.
 Keep a copy of your manuscript. Entries will not be returned. After the winner has
been selected, all other manuscripts will be destroyed.
 You may enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard so that we may acknowledge receipt
of your material.
 Mail your manuscript to the address below using first class priority mail.
 Award entries must be received by March 15, 2026. You will be notified of the
winner& #39;s name in Summer 2026.
 When the winner is notified, he/she must be prepared to submit the manuscript digitally
upon request.
 The award winner will receive $500 in cash and publication of the manuscript by
Broadside Lotus Press and University of Detroit-Mercy Press within the first
three months of 2027, as well as free copies and discounts.
 Broadside Lotus Press reserves the right to declare no winner in any year that none of the
manuscripts submitted meets Broadside Lotus Press literary standards.
 Failure to comply with these guidelines may cause your entry to be disqualified without
notification.
 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us for clarification.
 Mail your submission to: BROADSIDE LOTUS PRESS c/o Dr. Gloria House, 14063
San Juan Dr., Detroit, MI 48238 Address inquiries to [email protected].
Except for entries for this award, Broadside Lotus Press is not considering unsolicited manuscripts.
We publish books of poetry only, not individual poems.

26/02/2026

BORN ON THIS DAY - FEBRUARY 22, 1938 - ISHMAEL SCOTT REED

Ishmael Reed is a prolific American novelist, poet, playwright, and cultural critic whose work has consistently challenged dominant narratives about race, power, and history. Born in 1938 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and raised in Buffalo, New York, Reed emerged in the 1960s as a central voice in experimental Black literature. Associated with the Black Arts Movement yet fiercely independent, he developed a satirical, genre-blending style that fused folklore, politics, mysticism, and sharp social critique.

Reed is best known for novels such as Mumbo Jumbo (1972), a postmodern reimagining of American cultural history that centers African diasporic traditions and interrogates Western authority. His writing often deploys humor and parody to expose racism, cultural appropriation, and institutional hypocrisy. Beyond fiction, Reed has been an outspoken commentator on media bias, censorship, and artistic freedom, co-founding publishing and performance initiatives to support diverse voices.

26/02/2026

Hot of the Press! Please take a moment to check out this wonderful article from the Michigan Reading Journal! A big thank you to Dr. Leah Van Belle, Past Chair of the Michigan Reading Association, Editor of MRJ, professor, teacher and community builder!


The Soul of Reading: Broadside Lotus Press and Black Poetry as Celebration and Resistance

By Leah van Belle, Published on 02/25/26

26/02/2026

**ATTENTION**
Guidelines for the Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award
March 15, 2026 Deadline
Winning Manuscript Announced Summer 2026
Book Published Winter 2027
 This competition is open to African American poets only. If you have already had a book
published by Lotus Press or Broadside Press, you are ineligible. However, inclusion in
a Lotus Press or Broadside Press anthology does not disqualify you.
 Any other serious African American poet, whether previously published or not, may
submit a book-length manuscript for consideration. Do not include illustrations, essays,
short fiction, or other material that is not poetry.
 Poems submitted by another person, anthologies, or collaborations by more than one poet
are not acceptable.
 There is no reading fee; no payment is required.
 The poems in the manuscript should total approximately 60-90 pages, exclusive of a table
of contents or other optional introductory material. Begin each poem, single-spaced, on
a new page, no matter how short it may be. If the poem is long, it may be continued on
the next page(s).
 Use an easy-to-read font such as Times or Times New Roman, size 12 point. Single-space
except between stanzas.
 Poems that have been published individually in periodicals or anthologies are acceptable,
but we will not consider an entire collection (or a significant portion of an entire
collection) that has been previously published, whether self-published or not.
 Manuscripts entered in this competition may not be submitted to other publishers for
general consideration, but may be submitted to other contests, as long as you notify us
that you have done so or plan to do so. If you are notified that your manuscript has
won another competition, you MUST inform us of this immediately.
 Send two complete copies of your manuscript, typed or computer-generated, on white,
letter-size paper, with the pages consecutively numbered, to the address below. Do not
include your name on any of the pages.
 Include with each copy a cover sheet that contains the title of the collection only and no
other information.
 On one separate sheet of paper, list: (1) the title of the manuscript; (2) your name,
address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address, and (3) a brief statement signed with
your legal name, indicating that (a) all the poems in the collection are original and
uncollected (not appearing in a published volume of your work) and (b) you are an
African American.
 Keep a copy of your manuscript. Entries will not be returned. After the winner has
been selected, all other manuscripts will be destroyed.
 You may enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard so that we may acknowledge receipt
of your material.
 Mail your manuscript to the address below using first class priority mail.
 Award entries must be received by March 15, 2026. You will be notified of the
winner& #39;s name in Summer 2026.
 When the winner is notified, he/she must be prepared to submit the manuscript digitally
upon request.
 The award winner will receive $500 in cash and publication of the manuscript by
Broadside Lotus Press and University of Detroit-Mercy Press within the first
three months of 2027, as well as free copies and discounts.
 Broadside Lotus Press reserves the right to declare no winner in any year that none of the
manuscripts submitted meets Broadside Lotus Press literary standards.
 Failure to comply with these guidelines may cause your entry to be disqualified without
notification.
 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us for clarification.
 Mail your submission to: BROADSIDE LOTUS PRESS c/o Dr. Gloria House, 14063
San Juan Dr., Detroit, MI 48238 Address inquiries to [email protected].
Except for entries for this award, Broadside Lotus Press is not considering unsolicited manuscripts.
We publish books of poetry only, not individual poems.