all boys aren't blue is a young adult memoir-manifesto by george m. johnson that explores their experiences growing up black and queer through a series of personal essays. the book covers topics like gender identity, toxic masculinity, racism, family, consent, and black queer joy, balancing difficult themes such as bullying and societal marginalization with the enduring love and support of family and community. written for a young adult audience, it serves as both a relatable testimony for queer youth of color and a guide for allies seeking to understand diverse experiences.

what happens when you stop giving a f*ck about what your parents, partners, and society expect of you and ask yourself what you really want? salon’s inaugural sex and love advice columnist and author of the viral linkedIn sex work post, arielle egozi, shares their journey as a queer, neurodivergent, child of immigrants who never quite fit into the social roles she was supposed to, instead choosing to embrace their multiple dimensions, and eventually discovering freedom—and true power—by being “bad” in a world that kept trying to force her to be “good.” what if sex positivity wasn’t about having sex at all? what if you ditched relationship hierarchies and explored relationship anarchy?

carrie mae weems has often confronted the uncomfortable truths of racism and race relations over the course of her nearly 40-year career. in The Shape of Things, she focuses her unflinching gaze at what she describes as the circus-like quality of contemporary american political life. for this new work, weems created a seven-part film projected onto a cyclorama―a panoramic-style cylindrical screen that dates to the 19th century―where she addresses the turmoil of current events in the United States and the “long march forward.”

drawing on news and tv footage from the civil rights era to today, elements of previous films such as the madding crowd (2017) and new film projects that bring us into our tumultuous present, the films in The Shape of Things combine documentary directness with poetic rhythm to create an enveloping experience.

carrie mae weems (born 1953) has received numerous awards, grants and fellowships, and is represented in public and private collections around the world, including the metropolitan museum of art, new york; the museum of fine arts, houston; and the museum of modern art and the museum of contemporary art, los angeles. weems lives in brooklyn and syracuse, new york.

centered offers a rich, inclusive, and contemporary look at design diversity, both past and present, through essays, interviews, and images curated by design educator and advocate kaleena sales. as the design industry challenges its eurocentric foundations and reassesses conventional practices, centered highlights the voices, places, methods, ideas, and beliefs that have been overshadowed or excluded by dominant design movements. with thirteen thought-provoking essays and interviews, this volume features underrepresented and impactful design work, both historical and contemporary.

• includes works such as gee's bend quilters by stephen child and isabella d'agnenica and a chinese typographic archiveby yujune park and caspar lam.
• features an interview with sadie red wing (her shawl is yellow) on indigenous sovereignty and design.
• explores diverse and often overlooked design movements like the truck art of india by shantanu suman.

centered is an essential read for anyone passionate about diversity in design and the importance of elevating marginalized voices and practices in shaping the future of the field.

this large-format book includes 30 removable posters designed by Black creatives from around the world. featuring artwork by artists such as london-based muralist lakwena and south africa-based huston wilson, the posters range from bold illustrations to typographic designs. each piece celebrates positivity, hope, and strength through the unique lenses of emerging and established Black creatives. curated by designer tré seals, the collection highlights Black as a vibrant and multifaceted palette, embracing every color and form of light. perfect for framing or gifting.

the first book by one of the most in-demand photographers of our time, holding space shares one hundred stunning photographs of queer, inter-racial couples, with first-person text about their relationships in this current time period. after the may 2020 murder of george floyd, and during the covid pandemic, photographer ryan pfluger set out to capture queer, inter-racial couples across the us. it was (and is) a time of intense upheaval and reckoning and ryan wanted to capture that in the lives and on the bodies of these friends and strangers. the photographs, and the people in them, can be startling in their vulnerability, playful in their poses, and tender to the core. the interviews produce a range of short, revealing stories about the couples.

divided into six categories of keisters, this humorous history book takes you on a whirlwind tour of the finest rear ends in museums around the world—from the lusciously rendered bottoms of renaissance painting to the abstract curves of contemporary art. heritage scholars and art educators mark small and jack shoulder pair illuminating social commentary, historical context, and lively captions with captivating depictions of tasteful—and sometimes cheeky—bums in art.

author: mark small and jack shoulder 

this photographic celebration of queer love and excellence gathers fourteen LGBTQ+ power couples, offering a glimpse into the journeys that led to their meaningful relationships and thriving careers. from designer debbie millman’s ardent courtship of writer roxane gay to the romantic and creative relationship forged between perfume genius bandmates mike hadreas and alan wyffels on stage during their first world tour, this beautiful book offers a closer look into the lives of fourteen inspiring LGBTQ+ couples and the meet-cutes, success stories, and personal reflections that made them the role models they are today. these icons come from a range of backgrounds—they are trailblazers who lead research labs, kitchens, and news organizations; create life-giving art and music; and tell queer stories in award-winning books, films, and television shows.

she votes is a vibrant, intersectional story of the women who fought for suffrage and those who continue to raise their voices for equality. from the first female principal chief of the cherokee nation to the first woman to wear pants on the senate floor, author bridget quinn shines a spotlight on the trailblazers who broke down barriers. this deluxe edition also celebrates the 100th anniversary of the nineteenth amendment, featuring illustrations by 100 women artists.

• a colorful, intersectional account of the struggle for women’s rights in the u.s.
• heart-pounding scenes and keenly observed portraits of groundbreaking women from elizabeth cady stanton to audre lorde.
• beautifully illustrated by 100 women artists, making it a visual as well as a historical treasure.

she votes is a refreshing, illuminating read for feminists of all kinds—celebrating the voices that fought and continue to fight for equality.

100 years of modern iran: simple history series zine #6 is a concise and compelling overview of a century of political upheaval, revolution, and transformation in iran. covering the years 1891–1991, this zine explores the fall of the monarchy, foreign coups, and the rise of the world’s first islamic theocracy.

part of the simple history series by j. gerlach and published by microcosm, it offers sharp insight into how iran’s modern history connects with the judeo-christian west’s ongoing tensions with the islamic world.

a fast, thoughtful read for curious minds.

zine / pamphlet
published by microcosm

by emma yau, raina lampkins-fielder, rebecca bray

a wide-ranging survey of black art in the american south, from thornton dial and nellie mae rowe to the quilters of gee's bend

for generations, black artists from the american south have forged a unique art tradition. working in near isolation from established practices, they have created masterpieces in clay, driftwood, roots, soil, and recycled and cast-off objects that articulate america's painful past--the inhuman practice of enslavement, the cruel segregationist policies of the jim crow era and institutionalized racism. their works respond to issues ranging from economic inequality, oppression and social marginalization to sexuality, the influence of place and ancestral memory.
among the sculptures, paintings, reliefs and drawings included here--the majority from the souls grown deep foundation in atlanta--are works by thornton dial, lonnie holley, ronald lockett, hawkins bolden, bessie harvey, charles williams, mary t. smith, purvis young, mose tolliver, nellie nae rowe, mary lee bendolph, marlene bennett jones, martha jane pettway, loretta pettway and henry and georgia speller. also featured are the celebrated quiltmakers of gee's bend, alabama, and work from the neighboring communities of rehoboth and alberta.

*hardcover

discover 50 groundbreaking female photographers and how to incorporate their styles and techniques into your own photography. often in the shadow of their male counterparts, these inspirational women developed new techniques, created their own signature styles and captured everything from war to fashion. from early pioneers to contemporary leaders, they paved the way for generations to come and continue to do so, inspiring them to pick up a camera and decide what type of photographer they want to be. featuring masters of the medium, such as anna atkins, imogen cunningham, nadine ijewere, lee miller, shirin neshat, lorna simpson, cindy sherman, zanele muholi and ingrid pollard, this book is beautifully illustrated with full-color images of the photographers and their work.