The Vine, Vol. 5
Open submissions for Issue 24, upcoming events, and media we can't live without.
Welcome to The Vine, Ebony Tomatoes Collective’s monthly newsletter highlighting editorial updates, spotlights on previously published pieces, a glimpse into our team, and more.
Editorial Updates
Hi y’all, Ava here! Amidst the longer days and warm weather, thought daughters and bad bitches alike are going outside. The team at Ebony Tomatoes Collective is no exception. Here’s what’s going on with us in the next few weeks:
Issue 24: On Grief
We are currently accepting writing submissions and editorial illustrator applications for our 24th issue. After generations of unbridled loss and trauma, Black folks from across the diaspora have much to mourn. We’re interested in stories that capture grief in its many forms and faces. Read our call for submissions for all the juicy details.
Along with writing, we are seeking a Black painter to offer 10-15 illustrations (can be a mixture of new and previously completed works) to pair with the selected writing. The deadline for all illustrations is June 6, and we will provide a stipend of $80 and credit in the issue (and our socials) upon completion. If you’re interested, please send a short intro and some work samples to submit.ebonytomatoescollective@gmail.com. The deadline to send in all writing and applications is Tuesday, April 30th, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
If you’ve already submitted, thank you for your work. We’re going through all of your submissions as we speak, but there are only three of us, so please be patient! We expect to get back to all applicants with the status of their submissions in May.
BSU Block Party: April 24th in South Performing Arts Center Lawn in Tarrant County, Texas
This ain’t Texas…wait, actually, it is Texas. Thank you to Jah, an organizer from TCC South Campus’ Black Student Union for distributing copies of Ebony Tomatoes Collective at their upcoming block party. While I’m sad I’ll be stuck in the East Coast for the event, anyone in the area should come to support this lovely student organization! There will be food, music, arts, and entertainment galore. 90s gear is the themed attire for the afternoon. Find more information about the event here.
Men in Comedy Zine-posium: April 30th in Brooklyn, NY
Men in Comedy is carving an inclusive space for femme and gender-expansive comedians. We’ll be selling copies of our magazines at their event on April 30th, and I’ve been told there will be sweet treats for all—the proceeds of which will go to a good cause. RSVP here, and make sure to say hi if you come!
Melanated Media Screening: May 1st at The Bush
We all know and love Cheyenne’s Melanated Media series, which highlights films and television shows that include or are created by Black creatives. At long last, Melanated Media is moving from your Instagram feed to an in-person screening of Paris is Burning and Pariah at The Bush. RSVP for a spot here—tickets are on a $5-$10 sliding scale. Special thanks to Cheyenne and Arianna for organizing this event. I’ll be sitting in the back with my tissues in hand because every queer movie, even bad ones, makes me shed real lesbian tears. We will be selling copies of our magazine there as well.
If you can’t afford a ticket, please let us know at ebonytomatoescollective@gmail.com, and we can make sure you’re still able to see these incredible films!
Ink in Action Panel: May 7th at Secret Riso Club
I will be joining a panel of some incredible political publishers, including Sydney Ziems (@shadowbannedmagazine), Be Oakley (@genderfail), Hira Ahmed (@acacia_mag) at Secret Riso Club.
We will talk about the power of radical, independent publishing, how to combat censorship in digital spaces, the myriad challenges of building an independent magazine, and building support networks. If you’re looking to start a zine or just want to be more involved in the publishing space, this would be a good event to attend. Big thanks to the folks at Shadowbanned Magazine for inviting me to this necessary conversation, and to Tara from the Secret Riso Club for moderating the discussion—I will be sure to yap straight from the heart. RSVP for the Ink in Action Panel here. And yes, we’ll be selling copies here too.
Black and Indigenous Writer’s Group…
…is going strong! Thank you to everyone who has been coming out. Our next writing group, which is held remotely bi-weekly, will be on April 21st from 7-8PM EST (Hey, time zone alert! Please pay attention to the E-S-T). As always, you can register here and join the group remotely through this link.
Premium Newsletter
In May, we are launching an extended, premium version of The Vine to support our operations. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber once we launch, it would make a big difference to our humble, hardworking team.
Reading Recommendations & Feature
This month, I’d like to highlight “Disruption on the Dancefloor: A Conversation with Black Queer DJs,” an interview of five Black and queer DJs in New York by writer Binny Onabolu. This article discusses how music, movement, and raves carry profound potential for Black and queer healing, on both a personal and collective level. In such trying times, it’s nice to know that letting loose and having fun is also a tool for survival.
“Our togetherness is our superpower. Through collective action in DJ-facilitated spaces, the nightlife community has come together to hold fundraisers for Palestinian food kitchens, rebuild communities from the ruins of war through sound session cleanups, and affirm the importance of our existence by creating spaces of joy and celebration for ourselves. This powerful collective action is sustained by individuals, revealing a deeper truth: true community begins within. The spaces we create—the dance floors, the fundraisers, the moments of joy and rage—are reflections of our truest selves. To foster authentic community, we must first turn inward, exploring the core of who we are, what drives us, and what we seek in those with whom we share space, time, and music.”
Sasha, AKA DJ Gato Grrl by Lexi Webster
Check out Binny’s joyful piece on our website! In addition, explore Cecilia’s reading recommendations that shed light on the power of dance and music:
Reading Recommendations ~
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf is a choreopoem by Ntozake Shange that follows the lives of seven Black women represented by colors: lady in brown, lady in yellow, lady in purple, lady in red, lady in green, lady in blue, and lady in orange. This work explores racism, misogynoir, domestic violence, urban life, love, loss, and sisterhood all through a series of poems performed as a play. Music weaves seamlessly through choreopoem, from The Dells’ yearning “Stay in My Corner” to Martha Reeves & The Vandellas’ upbeat “Dancing in the Street.” Dance naturally accompanies the music, narrated by stage directions throughout, and both music and dance serve as liberating expressions of Black women’s pain and joy.
Dabke: Resistance through movement traces the history of Dabke, the traditional Arab folk dance that has come to symbolize resistance against Israel’s colonization of Palestine. By performing Dabke, Palestinians use their bodies to affirm their connection with the land and contribute to the long history of dance as a form of protest, refusal, and liberation.
From the Warehouse to the World: Chicago and the birth of house music features a collection of experiences from the OG house music creators and innovators. Charting the history of the genre back to the 1970s in Chicago, this article tells the story of house—a story of Black and queer creativity, persistence, joy, and community.
Not a reading recommendation, but check out Crystal Waters’ iconic 1991 house album Surprise to supplement your reading
Team Tap-In
Hi! Cecilia here with our rotating prompt on culture, community, and media. This time we've asked our team: If you could only consume one type of media for the rest of your life, what would it be? What about this form of media do you find unique or exceptional?
Ava: I would read all genres of books. I think books are a magical way to engage with knowledge and stories across so many time periods and cultures. They allow us to share and preserve information for centuries while being so beautiful!
Ariana: TV shows! I love the continuity of a plot a good show has and watching it pay off later.
Binny: Long form content on YouTube–sociology type reads on modern day happenings. Our modern day Black women philosophers on YouTube i.e. Khadija Mbowe.
Cecilia: Music. For the ways we feel it so viscerally in our bodies that we can’t help but dance or cry. For shouting lyrics memorized in unison with our friends and families. For its magical and time traveling qualities! (I’ve had Almeda by Solange and CLUB VENUS by Ania Hoo on repeat).
Cheyenne: TV shows–historically they define our culture and continue to reflect society. People use them to define their lives, like growing up watching the Cosby Show with their parents or bingeing Breaking Bad with friends. They provide topics for debate: should Rachel have gone back to Ross (no!) or who should have claimed the iron throne. They also just provide comfort in troubled times.
Melanated Media
This month, Cheyenne brings us another fascinating Melanated Media: Opus (2025), a new psychological thriller starring Ayo Edibiri and written and directed by Mark Anthony Green.
“It’s very timely as society is obsessed with celebrities now more than ever. What makes Opus scary aside from the gore and jarring cinematography (complimentary) is that it can actually happen! might even be happening right now (👁️👄👁️)…”
To see the full feature and keep up with Cheyenne’s recommendations, check us out on Instagram!
Call for Mutual Aid
Below you'll find mutual aid campaigns for Black, queer and trans folks. These campaigns support our friends and neighbors to make rent, secure food, and cover other necessary expenses. Donate to them if you can, and please share with your friends!
A Black queer femme seeks assistance paying off rent. Help them reach their goal of $1,750 by April 28th so they can avoid added interest on their debt. Venmo: @cheyjaled
Zola, a Black trans person living in NYC, is facing housing insecurity after being unjustly fired/targeted at their previous job. They urgently need $6,000 to cover three months of rent and daily expenses. Cashapp: $bl0wn0utbussy or Venmo @Stemmequeensupreme
Support a Black trans person with living expenses while they look for a new job. Cashapp: $moonflowerg or Venmo: @angelphat
Support a Black person to pay for rent, utilities, and food as they look for employment to supplement their current job. Cashapp: $zorastan or Venmo: @diluvia
If you have a mutual aid fundraiser we should put on our next newsletter, please email us at ebonytomatoescollective@gmail.com with your name, 1-3 sentences about your call for aid, and any relevant ways to reach you (Venmo/Cashapp/Instagram etc)
Thank you for reading ☆ Please comment, share, and subscribe to keep up with future editions of The Vine! Come back in May for more ☆