Radical Catalyst Art & Literary Journal

IT'S FINALLY HERE!
Radical Catalyst issue 1.2 — "Autonomy" — is officially out! We want to thank everyone who contributed to this issue, and to all of you for supporting our mission!
You can read this issue for free on our website: radicalcatalystjournal.org/issue1_2.html

Yesterday was International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. As Israel continues to launch an assault upon the Palestinian people, we stand in solidarity with them across the world. We refuse to stop until Palestine is free, from the river to the sea.

This book has been banned in North Carolina for its criticism of religious absolutions and the harm they do to relationships and families. It is vital to speak out against this censorship and protect books like this one, not in spite of the challenging material contained in them, but because of it.

The poems explore her struggles with the unwanted sexualization of her pubescent body, the religious guilt forced on her by her mother, and the bullying her brother faces for being gay. It serves as an accessible read for anyone struggling with faith, sexuality, abuse, and simply growing up.

To celebrate the last day of Banned Books Week, let's discuss The Poet X. Written by Elizabeth Acevedo, this book is a series of chronologically sequenced poems that tell the story of an adolescent girl coming of age in Brooklyn who uses poetry as an escape from the mounting chaos around her.

Nevertheless, Last Night at the Telegraph Club continues to connect with readers with its themes surrounding queer identity and community. How ironic is it that this book, set during a period when people were censored for their queerness, is being banned during a similar hateful movement?

In a blog post responding to challenges to her book, Lo stated her book is intended for readers in the high school age range due to the sexual context in the story. Unfortunately, this didn’t stop a ban from South Carolina’s Board of Education earlier in May 2025.

Set in the backdrop of 1950s San Francisco, Lily falls in love with a girl and discovers a secluded bar serving as a haven for the lesbian community. However, she must face exterior forces such as familial expectations, homophobia, and racism toward Asian Americans as a result of the Red Scare era.

Listed among the most banned books in recent years, Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo follows the coming-of-age journey of Lily Hu, a Chinese-American teenager, as she discovers her lesbian identity.

It's a reminder that, sometimes, it's natural to be a little scared and angry; the world IS wild, and to face it unafraid can bring about times of play and times of courage. Happy Banned Books Week!

With the growing urgency to "protect the children," Sendak, a gay, Jewish artist who never went to college, pulled from his own childhood in Brooklyn—dealing with deaths within his extended family from the Holocaust and illness—to reach out to other kids with comfort.

That's another part of Sendak's brilliance; he doesn't speak at kids, but rather extends a hand and casts an imaginative fantasy that they can latch onto. Max—and readers—get to be king for a day and romp with monsters, before returning safely back to reality.

One of the reasons Sendak's book has lingered in public memory is for the same reason it's been banned; now more than ever, kids find themselves thrust into the world with little preparation, being told adults know better and having their righteous anger and frustration dismissed as "childish."

Labelled as being "too scary" for children, and filled with supposed witchcraft and other supernatural fears, many parents and librarians demanded it be pulled from shelves to protect their young ones.

Maurice Sendak's novel, "Where the Wild Things Are" has a reputation for earning a Caldecott Medal, adaptations across short films, a movie, an opera, and—since it was first published in 1963—a series of bans across the American South.

It's a reminder that, sometimes, it's natural to be a little scared and angry; the world IS wild, and to face it unafraid can bring about times of play and times of courage. Happy Banned Books Week!

With the growing urgency to "protect the children," Sendak, a gay, Jewish artist who never went to college, pulled from his own childhood in Brooklyn—dealing with deaths within his extended family from the Holocaust and illness—to reach out to other kids with comfort.

That's another part of Sendak's brilliance; he doesn't speak at kids, but rather extends a hand and casts an imaginative fantasy that they can latch onto. Max—and readers—get to be king for a day and romp with monsters, before returning safely back to reality.

One of the reasons Sendak's book has lingered in public memory is for the same reason it's been banned; now more than ever, kids find themselves thrust into the world with little preparation, being told adults know better and having their righteous anger and frustration dismissed as "childish."

Labelled as being "too scary" for children, and filled with supposed witchcraft and other supernatural fears, many parents and librarians demanded it be pulled from shelves to protect their young ones.

Maurice Sendak's novel, "Where the Wild Things Are" has a reputation for earning a Caldecott Medal, adaptations across short films, a movie, an opera, and—since it was first published in 1963—a series of bans across the American South.

You're all in luck because we've got all of this in our upcoming issue, themed "Resisting Authoritarianism". Stay tuned so you don't miss it when it comes out tomorrow, July 30!

What are you most excited to see in our first issue?

- Works from Palestinian creators

- Radical calls to action in art

- Depictions of strong communities

- Writing representing international perspectives

But let us remember that we are not alone in our fears of Trump’s actions.

Comment below your thoughts and worries–we are here with you. We ask that everyone comments respectfully so that we can maintain this as a safe place for discussion.

We know that within the last month, Trump began his circus performance: shooting missiles at Iran and potentially throwing America into war, proposing bills to hurt the average citizen and encroach on their rights, and saying whatever he wants without thinking about the consequences.

We're uplifting radical writers and artists through our first issue themed Resisting Authoritarianism. Join our movement and donate here: secure.actblue.com/donate/radic...

We know that many Americans no longer feel the patriotic spirit of America and did not celebrate the 4th of July this past weekend, and understandably so. But let's take that energy and put it into action!

It is much easier for a dictator to censor the written word on the internet than it is for him to control all of the physical books owned by millions of citizens.

Keep your knowledge protected and #savephysicalbooks

Slowly, the digital world has been replacing the physical. Streaming services have overtaken blu-rays and DVDs, Apple Pay has replaced material cards, and e-books have outpaced physical books. However, now more than ever, the importance of collecting physical copies has surged.

Our Editor-in-Chief has been hard at work sending update emails about submitted pieces. Still wondering if your piece has been accepted? You may have an email from us!