Why do poets like to write about nature, love, pain and struggles? It is because others can relate to our thoughts. There are introverts that would love to live in solitude and retreat in places where nature is the only neighbor. There are those who keep fighting with love and each step teaches how to approach the gains and losses. There are many who battle different kinds of pain, making it one of the easiest subjects to write about. And there are people who have struggled to get where they are, and hope to encourage with words. These are places we feel most comfortable, so the emotions easily spill onto paper. But there is so much more to write about, especially when we are living in a time where we have so much knowledge and the latest news at our fingertips.

In all my years living in a country that is supposed to welcome diversity, it seems we are becoming more divided. We are taking steps backward, after decades and lives lost fighting for the freedoms we have today. I learn more from researching history, about way humans have been treated poorly because of the color of skin. It is alarming to see a human being degraded because of the job they do. I cringe when I see the privileged complain about trivial things, not having any idea how people live simply and humbly in other parts of the world. We all share the same planet and it is disturbing to watch another human being treated with such disrespect. It is obvious we need more light in a place quickly dimming.

As writers, we have the power to unite people with our words. We are artists gifted with the ability to add color to the souls drifting into shades of gray. So instead of putting together another poetry anthology, the newest project from Creative Talents Unleashed will focus on culture. We wanted to try something a little different that could inspire and entertain the audience. To give a little piece of who we are and where we came from; a taste of the ingredients that make the world.

Excerpt from the Introduction in Shades of the Same Skin:

 The bell pepper is a fascinating species to watch as it grows. In its youth, the green bell pepper is harvested before it begins maturity. It has a distinct bitter flavor that works best in a savory chili. In the mid-stages, yellow and orange peppers are picked but are not as popular as the green variety. With a fruity taste, these colors are better in salads or kebabs. In the final stage of maturity, the pepper turns red. It is sweeter than its predecessors and used to create pimento and paprika spices. One tree produces the same pepper in a variety of shades, giving us an assortment of flavors.

 Humans are no different than the bell pepper. We are shades of the same skin, filled with flavors that enhance the diversity of the planet. Each generation blossoms with something new to pass down to the next and it is how we have a melting pot of culture. We have been grafted and blended over and over again; sometimes it is not that easy to trace our ancestral roots. But the heritage that runs in our veins is what makes us who we are. We take what has been passed on and fuse it with new traditions and ideas, adding essence to the cauldron of humanity.

– Donna J. Sanders

This anthology is an opportunity for writers all over the world to share their life and traditions. To reveal a part of you many may not know about. To share stories and recipes passed down from generations. It is truly a unique project to highlight real people who embrace their culture. And perhaps, a chance to bring humanity together one life at a time, so don’t let it pass you by. Submit to Shades of the Same Skin soon as there are only a few days left.

Click on the links below for submission guidelines:

• Facebook Event
• Creative Talents Unleashed Blog

Written by: Donna J. Sanders

Donna is a freelance writer and blogger in West Palm Beach, FL. She is the author of Ataraxia – a poetry collection about the struggles we face, the state of the world and how to see beauty in the simplest things, and Cardboard Signs – poems to bring awareness about homelessness, mental illness, self-esteem and the injustices many face.

Find out more about her here:

https://theraven6825.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/DonnaJSanders6825

http://www.ctupublishinggroup.com/donna-j.-sanders.html

 

http://www.facebook.com/Creativetalentsunleashed

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https://rajasinsight.com

 

Photo Credit: © Donna J. Sanders

Categories: Creative Talents Unleashed

Tags: Anthology, culture, Poetry, Short Story, writing, Writing Contest