Shuddhashar FreeVoice invites contributions to a new series on our platform: Letters to America — a space for raw, thoughtful, creative, and critical expressions addressed to the United States. As a platform with a strong network of writers and artists who have experienced first-hand, or studied, repressive regimes and discriminatory policies that seek to erase and silence progress toward social justice, we believe our contributors and readers have valuable perspectives and lessons to offer. Whether it’s advice, critique, frustration, anger, or solidarity, we invite you to share your voice and speak to America, about America, or because of America.
We welcome submissions in a wide range of formats, including:
- Letters (open or personal)
- Short essays
- Audio recordings or monologues
- Poetry or spoken word
- Short video clips
- Visual art with accompanying commentary
This is not limited to formal political critique — it could be a poetic reflection on American influence, a message from someone affected by U.S. foreign policy, a vision for justice, advice from those who have endured surveillance and self-censorship, or response to global structural inequality.
Topics might include:
- U.S. foreign policy and its effects
- Impacts of U.S. policies on higher education, science, publication, and free speech
- Policies against trans and rights of LGBTQ+ communities
- Racism, imperialism, and global capitalism
- Immigration, exile, and refugee experiences
- Solidarity movements and global struggles for justice
- Culture, media, and the myth of the American Dream
- Climate crisis, responsibility, and global leadership
- Advice to everyday citizens in a country in crisis
Practical details
- Rolling deadline
- Submit your pitch to info@shuddhashar.com
- Word count for final piece: 700-1600 (flexibility depends on the format)
- If you’re contributing a writing, submit as a Word file attachment.
- For other formats, specify by email
- Send your biography (70 words or less, in third person prose) and photo for author’s profile
- Include your name as you want published (pseudonyms considered)
- Photos (not copyright restricted) welcome
- Please note that this is a voluntary initiative, as Shuddhashar FreeVoice currently operates without dedicated funding for this series. We do this because it matters!
To Inspire, Not to Impress.
Essays on other topics continue to be welcome. For essays not part of Letters to America, submit a 200-word proposal to info@shuddhashar.com
