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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of african american short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

820+ African american Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Whether you want to read about African American author's hopes and resilience or their unique struggles, you'll find what you're looking for here.

African american Short Stories – Page 42 of 55

Abyss of Revenge: What was once Home

Submitted to Contest #85

Bernice's ride through the city was amazing. She hadn’t planned this but there was one particular place she wanted to visit. Her heart pushed her to that part of the city where she once lived. Her body resisted the temptation to go to that particular location but her mind was there already. The scenes she’d tried had to forget was going to come back one way or the other but she took the risk. She turned a junction to the mansion she once lived in and noticed how developed that part of the city had beco...

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The Legacy of Room 304

Submitted to Contest #85

The man entered the newly renovated Gentle Covert Hotel. It was a spacious circular lobby with golden pillars surrounding a lounge area that aimed towards the hard oak desks of the reception desks on both sides of the space. When the man walked in, all eyes were discrepantly on him. He felt the jolting energy in the room diminish to hush and weariness. Not the first time people stopped their daily routine to feel their safety shattered by just one reality-busting figure. Over time, he started to enjoy the attention.  It wasn't often a “...

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That Unforgettable Piece of History

Submitted to Contest #85

 The noise in the room is what I would describe as unimaginable, if I had to pick a word. The wood was distractingly shiny and new under my feet, and I felt too dirty to be standing there. In front of me, a white sea topped with a surf of brown and gold. I could smell the expensive perfumes clouding the room, how expensive the silk gathered in lace gloves was. Behind fans, I could see painted smiles, but each glimmering eye was critical. Out of the corner of my eyes, I catch glimmers of dark eyes and skin, crowded together. Behind me, I...

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Oh, Timeless New York

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, y'know. People come. People go. Buildings are built, some are demolished. Oh New York, how you steal my heart. I came here, some 50 years ago, I was probably your age, how old is you? -seventeen -yeah we're seventeen well, I was a bit younger than you then haha, ah God how time flies, now I'm old, just like you New York, you oh great jungle of buildings. Where was I going with this, kid? I must have gotten lost in the way. -emm yes don't worry bout it, the next question we have is why you came here? Oh yes! ...

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The Golden Tile

Submitted to Contest #85

Old Station North - 1940 The delicate song of piano keys rung out through the hall of the station as he began playing. The ceiling was gold-tiled, exquisite and undoubtedly gilded, as was the city. Grand ornate arches kept the roof up while the sleek marble floors never dried up and were constantly polished. The harmonics proved by the great curved ceiling made the notes of the piano bounce off down to ears of the crowds below who all gathered to watch him. He and his band’s train had been delayed; and so, what else was there to do but play?...

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What So Ever You Do to the Least of my Brothers

Submitted to Contest #85

Andre Bowers was shot and killed by Langford Police when he was standing in the parking lot of a local 7-11 waving a pistol.  He happened to be African American and later it was determined that the .38 snub nose was not loaded.  Immediately the small community reacted to this incident creating a question: How can we prevent future incidents from happening?  This question is not unique to Langford.  One more factor, Andre Bowers was mentall ill. From interview with Sidney Ross, Langford City Manager: Last year about...

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Imagination

Submitted to Contest #84

 I heard a thundering knock at my door that jolted me awake. I noticed the doctor wearing a blue scrub walking in a brisk movement inside my cramped space. His eyes filled with grieve and horror. As I perceived him, my mind overflowed with thoughts of panic and anxiety. I acknowledged that whatever I was about to hear was about to mortify me. The doctor calmly said, "Hello Emily, we have found some critical data, your cancer has spread to your lungs and chest, and we have found that you only have a year or so to continue your life....

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Paging Dr. Harris

Submitted to Contest #84

Work was like any other day, daydreaming of a day I can get away from this work life. One would think I would be used to it, after all I have been here for fifteen years. My husband is always away while I work and then go home with the kids. I have three teenagers. My boys are loud, eat a lot, messy, and stink, but to their dad, they are good boys. Connor is my oldest at seventeen, Matthew the middle child, sixteen and Zechariah the baby, is only fifteen, They are good boys at heart, but I wished that I would have had a girl. I longed for my...

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Bird flying

Submitted to Contest #84

There’s no sound on earth quite like a bird flying into a sliding glass door. Unlike the white noise of mass extinctions and vanishing rainforests, the singular thud of delicate avian bones against shatter-resistant Duraplex glass is impossible to ignore. It's the sound of the natural and man-made worlds colliding, like the off-key fervor of a bronze temple gong struck by a fresh-faced initiate. Burt Frumbder was savoring the second sip of his first cup of coffee when this one-of-a-kind sound made him jump, spilling this same cup of coffee. ...

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Pregnant and alone

Submitted to Contest #84

I swear I just know how to pick them. I guess I should start from the beginning, Lisa is my name or as my daughter calls me mom, I had her when I was eighteen her father flat out left me in the cold I mean we was never together in a relationship or anything he was more like a fuck buddy. Nevertheless it hurt like hell when he said he wasn't the father and if he was he didn't want nothing to do with her or me and hung up on me, I did my best to give my baby girl everything she needed, I mean I went into big stores and stole out of them I'm no...

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In my head

Submitted to Contest #84

Urgh two more months in this room, no morning light in fact i miss feeling the sun on my skin, literally sunbasking, the heat kissing my skin enhancing that natural dark chocolate colour i already have. Hahaha i laugh out loud and it slightly echos in the tiny room i am in. Got me feeling a bit like Van Choga though, no haircut, messy clothes, Thank God for the tiny bathroom by the corner otherwise i would had definitely looked like him no questions asked. Honestly speaking most would think it was some silly joke, an off handish crazy stun...

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A sea of stars

Submitted to Contest #83

Weightlessness. Melissa’s body floated in the warm shallow water of a calm sea. The waves rocked her awake as she started to focus on what was above her. The moon peeked through dark grey clouds as her vision cleared. The smell of salty sea air along with the rolling water running onto land, and then back out to her, pulling her closer. Each time the waves rocked her, more of the feeling started returning to her body. She had no idea how she got there, or what she had been doing before. There was only the feeling like she had been lowered fr...

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No Rest for the Wicked

Submitted to Contest #83

Beneath the sea’s surface, I am at peace and everything is quiet. I wish I could stay down here forever where the hardest problems I have is telling the difference between the fish that swim near me and pruny skin. But my lungs need oxygen and it isn’t long before I swim up to the surface and breathe in sweet, fresh air. Above water, I’m greeted by the sounds of seagulls shrieking and children playing at the beach with their families. As I step out of the water, every noise comforts me as it means I’m on my first vacation in a very long time...

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Surprises aren't always bad

Submitted to Contest #83

"Timmy! I'm paying you Ja $500 to do my English Lit essay about Prospero and the storm in Act 1. ",Raggie, the captain of the Rugby team said running up from the field with shirt in his hands and a much too sweaty face.I don't know how bad my face looks right now, but I am stressed out. I turned around pissed but a little nervous."Tough love Raggie but you're out of luck. I'll be busy this whole week and won't have time to do your essay",I say wondering why he went in sporting activities knowing that he wouldn't be able to do important tasks...

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Cherchez la femme

Submitted to Contest #84

Jonathan dropped his bags as he slammed the door behind him. He looked around and everything was the fucking same, he looked around his cubicle of an apartment and sighed in despair as memories came flooding back. He hissed as he started the whole cleanup process, what was the point of staying away for a whole godamn year frolicking the continent to be back in his apartment and within seconds, become nostalgic. He thought It’s being a whole godamn year since Stella sent that text “ACOAT” which was their code for ‘any chance of action tonig...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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