Sing the Truth: The Kweli Journal Short Story Collection (Paperback)
by Laura Pegram
A collection of voices from diverse cultures and circumstances. Each voice shows the personal struggles of immigration, and political and racial oppression.

Sing the truth a hard bed by Princess Joy L. Perry
The story of two brothers learn life's hard lesson between what needs to be done and what they can dream of. They find love and purpose to only be oppressed by racism and expectations of society.

The sing the truth Farradiyya By Reem Kassis
The struggles of the Muslim refugees that were forced by Partition of India in 1947. The loss of work and life skills make the immigrants lives even more difficult. They struggle and loose hope.

sing the truth work by DéLana R.A. Dameron
The story of work, a young girl starts a business on friendship bracelets. It become a joint work with employees. With all her work put to naught because of the uncle that took advantage of his family. Her struggles include finding and working on a computer business. This includes finding music and other changes of youth.

sing the truth without a big one by John Paul Infante
Lost in the stories that your family tell you. A child deal with the problems of living poor in the ghetto. With your families lies all the truth you know.

sing the truth Panagbenga by Daphne Palasi Andreades
The story of the Philippines, and how it affects an immigrant family as they move to a new country.
The problems of coming from poverty in the old country, to New York City. The struggle of the family with a new country, and the struggles of the secretes of the family.

sing the truth magic city relic
by Jennine Capó Crucet
The story of Cuban immigration and how the family divides on lines of loyalty. The young scholar learns the divides that come from being a college student.


sing the truth cold by Naima Coster
The hard choices when a single mother address life after children. With no husband to help provide, and no support, how she can change her situation by persistent effort. Its a heart rendering story of sacrifice for others.

sing the truth straight dollars of loose change by Latoya Watkins \
A younger sister visits her incarcerated older brother. Despite her personal struggles its him that is the focus of the visit. She is moving up, going to collage finding a place, where he only sees what's before him.

sing the truth la hija de chango by Ivelisse Rodriguez
The predictions of future haunt a family, the ceremonial practices of the family shame the next generation. These historical practices of Puerto Rico magic in the family haunt the grandchildren who do not have memories of these practices. How this expectation affects how they view themselves, even as life gives them opportunity beyond their past.

sing the truth jenny's dollar store by K-Ming Chang
Denying herself a young girl learns a valuable lesson of trust and understanding. This Lgtbq+ story shows the nature of immigration and generational differences. The book shows how hard it is to be yourself when society has its own rules.

sing the truth cleaning lentils by Susan Muaddi Darraj
the struggles of anorexia and body image. the frustration of social expectations and what is expected in beauty. the family has derived division because of the expectations.


sing the truth what's for sale by Nicole Dennis-Benn
the Jamaican market showing the terrified idea human trafficking and exploitation. the difficulty of prejudices that are layer and complex in Jamaican society.


sing the truth emperor of the universe by Kaitlyn Greenidge
the tragedy of death, with the misperception of life. the encompassing regret of love. the overwhelming sadness of grief.
the ideas of Maritgra and acceptance of the darkness that is overwhelming grief. Giving grief a shape she is able work through the grief. struggles about perception of the family causes problems.



sing the truth angry blood by Estella Gonzalez
the rough life of poor women left destitute in El Paso. The tough choices and sacrifice that Trickle down the generation.

Thank you to NetGalley for this fantastic audiobook. Sing The Truth is literally in its name- say the truth: loud, proud, ugly, beautiful, messy, etc. This should be one that every high school kid reads. Understanding other perspectives is the pinnacle of singing the truth. This was powerful and one of my favorite reads of 2025.

Sing the Truth is a poignant and lyrical testament to Edwidge Danticat’s unmatched ability to weave memory, history, and resistance into prose that sings with both sorrow and strength. With her signature grace and emotional clarity, Danticat invites readers into a world where truth is not just spoken—it’s felt, deeply and collectively.

This work resonates on multiple levels: as a tribute to the power of women’s voices, as an echo of Haiti’s rich and painful past, and as a reminder of the quiet bravery it takes to speak one’s truth in the face of silence or suppression. Each piece is layered with cultural depth, political urgency, and emotional weight. Danticat’s writing honors not just the facts of experience, but the feeling of living through them.

There is a rhythm to her storytelling that is both intimate and universal. Whether through fiction, memoir, or reflection, she gives voice to those often unheard, making the personal feel historical and the historical deeply personal.

Sing the Truth is not only a literary work—it’s a call to witness, a preservation of memory, and a celebration of resilience. It deserves to be taught, shared, and treasured.

I really loved this collection of short stories from BIPOC writers. All under the editorial umbrella of the Kweli Journal (note to self to check that out).
The stories ranged from misguided teenage love to eating disorders and abuse to grief.
With each story emerging from different diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, as well as different styles and voices, it was a really engaging and ever-changing listen.
That said the stories hung really well together, with a consistency of (very high) quality in all of them and lots of strong visuals and character development.
This compilation has reminded me how much I love short stories, especially from writers whose worlds are so different to my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and S&S Audio for the gifted audiobook.
I was excited to listen to a collection of stories from the voices of BIOP and marginalized authors.
Each story has a different narrator, some of whom I recognized from other audiobooks. I believe all the narrators did a great job. The narrators included ones that are well-known and top-rated.
I enjoyed the variety of voices and accents!

Each story is different. The stories are wide-ranging, from teenage love (one of my favorites), dealing with the grief from the death of a loved one (very unique story), poverty, sexuality, and generational trauma (trigger warning). I liked some stories better than others, but I appreciate them all.

3.75 Stars overall

I absolutely loved this book. It brought me back to my childhood. I was 9 again and eavesdropping on my mom and her friends exchanging weird, scary and sometimes just mundane stories they heard in their village growing up... Until they saw me and chased me off.

So give it a shot, especially if you have some foreign blood in you, like me.

Like every short story collection some stories will appeal more to you than others. But this was a good one. Never forget, these authors put themselves out there.

So thanks for all the authors for writing these little pieces of gems and Netgalley for providing me a copy of the audiobook.

4.25🌟

Sing the Truth is an anthology from Kweli Journal, highlighting 15 short stories by different BIPOC writers. These stories focus on various themes, including grief from different types of loss, resilience, family, abuse, and more.

What a heartbreaking and beautiful collection. Some standouts for me were the stories Work, Cold, Cleaning Lentils, What's For Sale, and Emperor of the Universe.

The audiobook had each story narrated by a different person, which added to the authenticity of the different story perspectives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC.

I'm always hesitant to dive into short story collections because -- on the whole -- I'm not a fan. I prefer novels, as I feel that short stories often don't have the time to fully develop characters and plot and so always feel a little rushed and flat to me.

However, I also try to be a well-rounded reader, and collections like this are pretty important to maintaining that. So, I requested and received this through Netgalley, and I was very pleasantly surprised.

This collection was beautifully crafted. It has a wonderful mix of works from black, native, Hispanic, and other POC authors and isn't just limited to one group of people. The themes are emotional, powerful, and sometimes heartbreaking but always compelling and resonant. The narration aspect, too, really added to the overall enjoyment of the book. I highly recommend this one in audio format because the diverse range of narrators really does make the experience better.

Not all of the stories are happy. In fact, some of them are quite bleak, but even those are beautiful in their way. I found there to be a good mixture of both light and heavy stories, unresolved stories and stories with resolutions, uplifting stories and stories that will break your heart. The collection never drifted too far into either side of the road, which made for a very balanced and easy-to-read selection.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to add more diversity to their reading repertoire or people just looking for a collection of good, quick reads.

I received an audiobook ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a beautiful, breathtaking, and heartbreaking short story collection of BIPOC voices from around the world.

This collection of short stories from the wonderful The Kweli Journal both gives an insight into the experiences and imagination of people from all around the world that we might not otherwise hear from, and truly unites us all in the human emotion and passion for storytelling.

A phenomenal project and an exquisite and eclectic collection of stories.

Marvelous!

I am automatically going to read anything that Eswidge Dandicat has written or is involved with! I preferred some stories over others but overall I think that this is an important collection of short stories. Some sad, odd, emotional and all thought-provoking. I both read and listened. The audiobook authors were well chosen and their voices kept me engaged!

I seldom pick up short stories, but the cover grabbed my attention and thus picked it. this collection provides insight into the struggles and challenges of BIPOC and single mothers. Written by emerging authors, these stories offer readers a glimpse into the experiences of others. Thank you for this opportunity.

Sing the Truth is a powerful anniversary collection from Kweli Journal, celebrating stories by and about BIPOC communities. Edited by Laura Pegram—who herself lives with an autoimmune disease—this collection feels deeply personal, raw, and reflective of lived realities that often go unheard.

These are not easy stories. Each one is a slice-of-life vignette, grounded in themes of immigration, assimilation, illness, poverty, and otherness. The tone is unflinchingly bleak at times, but that bleakness feels intentional—a reflection of the sacrifices and quiet strength it takes to survive in systems not built for you.

The multiple narrators in the audiobook bring depth and authenticity, helping the stories feel even more rooted in truth. Still, this isn't a collection you'll binge. It’s one to take in slowly, to sit with the weight of each story.

If you're looking for joyful escapism, this won’t be it. But if you want a collection that holds space for the complexities of BIPOC life in America—this delivers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy.

This is a selection of amazing short stories! As with any anthology, there were some that stuck out to me more than others, but I can confidently say there was not a single story I would give a low rating to.

One of my favorite short stories, Cleaning Lentils by Susan Muaddi Darraj, was a lovely inclusion. It makes me cry every time.

Most of the stories had the ability to make empathize or sympathize with the characters.

This was a beautiful collection of BIPOC stories. The audiobook was enjoyable to listen to. The narrators did an amazing job and I really appreciate there being a full cast, especially with so many diverse stories. This was a window into the lives of a diverse group of BIPOC characters. I plan on adding it to our high school curriculum, when we do Sophomore or Junior History.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book prior to publication.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This is a beautifully crafted collection of short stories, offering a wide range of experiences while exploring powerful, often intersecting themes. The use of multiple narrators, one for each story, adds a dynamic quality to the audiobook listening experience, giving each piece a distinct voice.

I found the stories exploring the disconnect between characters' home and school lives particularly resonant. The collection delves into difficult territory, frequently depicting grinding poverty, caregivers at their breaking point, and the devastating impact of neglect, abuse, or exploitation by those meant to be protectors. These themes make for a demanding and often upsetting listen.

The first few stories set a very dark tone, which initially made me wonder if I could continue with the collection. While subsequent stories often maintained this emotional weight, many wove in moments of light that sustained my listening momentum. Several stories conclude without clear resolution, hovering between probable disaster and the faintest possibility of bittersweet redemption.

Structurally, while the variety keeps the collection engaging, the intense emotional weight is somewhat concentrated towards the beginning. Introducing some of the relatively lighter (though still complex) stories earlier might have created a slightly more balanced listening journey.

The audiobook production itself was strong, with the varied narrators enhancing the experience. I did encounter a minor technical issue within the NetGalley app where playback progress exceeded 100%.

This is not a collection to be entered into lightly. While I didn't uniformly "enjoy" every story due to the heavy subject matter, I found most pieces thought-provoking and impactful, learning something valuable from every narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance audiobook copy of this book. This book is my first read by this author. I enjoy listening to the different short stories. Overall this book is good. I look forward to reading other books by this author.

I'd never heard of the Kweli Journal, but I am now fully invested in finding out more about it. This collection of short stories brings to life through several narrators BIPOC voices. You'll feel the hardship of a mother trying to care for her children after her husband becomes incarcerated, follow a young college student back home to discover that she's changed and may not fit in with where she always called home, a grieving widow who takes a very unconventional approach to work through her loss, and more. This collection celebrates cultural diversity and explores themes of identity, belonging, and resilience.

I loved that the audiobook had multiple narrators, including one of my faves-Bahni Turpin. It really gave the stories that extra authenticity.

You will grow empathy and awareness and lean into why it's so important to amplify diverse voices with these stories.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC. I really enjoyed this book. I do love a collection of short stories and this one was incredible. Touches on some tough stories and topics but so worth the read.

This short story collection was beautiful and moving, and should absolutely be required reading in 2025. The collected works from fourteen incredible BIPOC authors explore the meaning of home, family, love, and diasporic identity. Each entry is unique in it's perspective, but they all remind the reader that the layers of identity are in constant flux in ways we can't always see through out own narrow gaze. By engaging with the stories and experiences of the people around us, we come ever closer to truly knowing ourselves.

My favorites were "A Hard Bed" by Princess Joy L. Perry, "Cleaning Lentils" by Susan Muaddi Darraj, "Magic City Relic" by Jennine Capó Cruset, and "Straight Dollars or Loose Change" by LaToya Watkins.

This audiobook was read by multiple narrators, lending authenticity to the stories within. The differing voices clearly marked the change in stories, which is something that is sometimes missed in audio format. I truly enjoyed each of these narrators. As for the format itself, I do wish they had introduced each story with the title and author because with compilations, the listener sometimes wants to look up more by that author.

That was definitely the case in this collection. Even the foreword by Edwidge Danticat (who was a large part of my interest in the collection) and the intro by the editor made we want to read more of their words.

Each one of these stories was moving in some way. They explored immigrants, refugees, and caste. Many of the stories were from women’s POV and showcased their extra burdens as mothers, caregivers, and wives. Race and ethnicity was explored and varied. I got a sense of multiple countries and cultures throughout this. I’d also love to point out that the male POV stories are just as interesting and impactful. Their struggles go beyond male machismo, and these stories justly represented great emotional depth for the male characters. Laura Pegram says in her intro that she was looking for stories and words that meant more, showed more, than what was on the page. Her curation is peak, and I look forward to reading more of each of these authors.