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Discover weekly, the best short stories

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

150+ Black Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Discover the best new stories by Black authors, written to themed prompts and curated by our judges.

Black Short Stories – Page 9 of 10

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled History…

Submitted to Contest #243

October 30th, 1938… It was supposed to be a harmless radio broadcast, or so they say. None of us really knew at the time. The blackout came without warning, cutting off the radio’s descriptions of an extraterrestrial ship which had just landed in Grovers Mill, New Jersey. As far as we could put together, aliens had just come down from space, and shortly after, we’d lost all power. The assumptions were widespread, resulting in a mass panic that had struck the city of Mobile, Alabama within minutes. A once beautiful city, now suffering the sam...

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Beyond the Canvas

Submitted to Contest #242

Through the years, buildings have changed in design, with less care for intricacies most have adopted modern features of minimalism and futurism, this is not to say they lack in receiving admiration but something about those who stood decades before exuded grandness that one is simply unable to forget. Amongst most fine buildings of this nature was the museum in its ancient glory. History ran across its corridors, plastered itself against its walls and spread throughout its rooms adding more than just the enchanting exterior, within was othe...

14 likes 3 comments 3
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The Last Man Kneeling

Shortlisted for Contest #242 ⭐️

(*warning; Implied racism and mentions of slavery. *) THE LAST MAN KNEELING The man in the painting was nameless, but he knew three things for certain:1. He was depicted kneeling on a plush red carpet, his face locked in a stern expression as he gazed into the flickering flames of a grand fireplace.2. The artist who had brought him to life and placed him on display was known as Asher Vanderbilt, his elegant signature adorning the bottom of the canvas in golden letters.3. And most importantly - at night, the nameless man would come alive. It ...

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#Shrimpy

Submitted to Contest #241

Kulu Onya’s thumb hovered over the send icon on his phone. Waves of anxiety sent shocking currents of nervousness throughout his sinewy fingers. They begged to jitter, to clench themselves into fist, but he wouldn’t allow them to. His brain wanted him to tap that pesky icon underneath his thumb. But his heart cried out a warning that it may not be able to bear the weight of the repercussions. In the end his brain won out. He hit send and the one word message was suddenly unleashed. Just one word. ‘Why’ Kulu threw his phone down next to him o...

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"Unfolding Destiny" : A Journey of Resilience and Empowerment

Submitted to Contest #240

Adanna's journey began in the vibrant tapestry of an African setting, in a rural Community called 'Nwokenwe' meaning 'Males Own'. The name implies that males own properties, Lands,including the Women whom they married.It was a Community where unfortunately, societal expectations wove a restrictive narrative for women. Raised in an environment where prevailing beliefs dictated that a woman's destiny and certificates inevitably led to the confines of the kitchen, Adanna faced the headwinds of stereotypes from a young age of 19. Growing...

16 likes 2 comments 2
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Wither of Her Flowers.

Submitted to Contest #239

  Warning: Abuse, murder, mental health. It never rained in the town of Oddinn, South Carolina. Well, it never rained actual rain. Instead, seeds fell from the sky. Amazing seeds. Seeds that gave the people their Flowerfrins. And once again, the fluffy, mint green clouds were here. Hovering over Oddinn, raining down a shower of glossy, golden seeds.  The people of Oddinn, beautiful and Black, filled the streets with joy as the much anticipated rain of seeds came cascading from the sky. Many of them with their children: ne...

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Fast Magic, And Other Services

Submitted to Contest #239

As desperate as one can be, I guess, though Raúl, who would never think he would ever need the services of a Madame, but here he was in front of a big blue door surrounded by purple velvet walls and green somber lights. The air was chill and smelled of drunken roses spilled everywhere, and even though he was a supposedly atheist and anti-magic pro-naturalist to his core, there he was. This house of witches served fast magic; always truth at its core, never in its details, customers advised.  And here I am. The door opened to an ...

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The solace of a man hides a litany of emotions. The heart of a woman lies all the love she will ever receive.

Submitted to Contest #238

*Trigger Warning: Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Sexual Violence* When my father came down the hallway, his face burgeoning with excitement at the potential of the long-awaited day when he could finally exist differently. Three hundred and sixty-four days of a monotonous gait zapped away by the mere presence of… well, presents.  He is a simple man, five feet ten inches, with a beer belly that extends past his feet and droops downward like he is with child. His claws are trimmed once a year out of respect for the occasion of Christ’...

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Kita in Color

Submitted to Contest #239

The sun was low in the sky, giving off a faint yellow light when they saw the Village. Kita and her ward had only taken a few steps past the gates, but already there was an ominous weight hanging in the air. The streets were nowhere near empty, but there was a curious stillness that went beyond the lack of population, like a blanket had been draped over the town and been tucked in so tight that it muffled all sound. "I need a bed. A real bed, one fit for an evil overlord." Glenda complained, stabbing the silence around them sharply with his ...

26 likes 3 comments 3
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Rich, Red

Submitted to Contest #237

A lady had been dropped off today. Despite the reddish hair, blackness was evident in tight coils and a rounded nose. Her dark eyes surveyed the dim household, stepping in gingerly. She marveled at the deep blue walls, lacquered floors, and the faint smell of dried flowers. The absence of a looming presence allowed her to take everything in. Rosa let out a quiet sigh so subtle it sounded like any other breath. This was a girl allowed to be one, a fact emphasized by her travel wear. The polished red shoes especially caught Rosa’s attention. T...

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The dinner

Submitted to Contest #237

The window whined to a stop as I pushed the object to its hilt, letting out the smoke that quickly filled the corners of my apartment. The fire alarms didn’t work; they never had — another reason I counted down the days until my lease was up.I ran back over to the stove, looking at the scorched chicken breast taunting me in the pan. Groaning as I carried it over to the trash, tipping it in along with the other dishes I burned today. I lost focus; cleaning the small area proved to be a larger feat than I recall, but today of all days, everyth...

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Powerful Men with Powerful Guns

Submitted to Contest #236

Note: Contains religious and political satire.The Angel sat looking dispassionately out from the top of Papoose Mountain across the sandy desert and mountain ranges. He could just make out the lights of Las Vegas in the pre-dawn gloom where, without doubt, the revellers were having the time of their lives. It was bitterly cold, but the Angel did not shiver. The light breeze carried the faint aroma of juniper and, the even fainter, sweet scent of cactus flowers making, ironically, one last effort at reproduction.Without his wings he had been ...

5 likes 1 comment 1
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The Cody Incident

Submitted to Contest #235

trigger warning: depictions of gruesome injury Penny screamed a blood-curdling scream when she saw that Cody broke both of his legs. Well, it was the combination of the sound of Cody’s legs snapping like planks followed by the sight of Cody collapsing on the ground, both legs from the shin down dangling from the rest of him, that set her over the edge. During their fourth grade P.E. kickball game, she watched Cody step up to the plate, eager to kick the ball over the playground fence. Penny played shortstop, engrossed in the exciting and c...

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New Year and New Lies

Submitted to Contest #231

New Year and New Lies Every year, I list resolutions on New Year's Eve. Usually, I only try five, hoping to manage all, but I break at least one within a month. I know it's not just me. Living up to the resolutions we set is tricky. My list is always the same: 1.       Save at least $1000 2.       Lose at least 15 lbs. 3.       Get organized 4.       Call friends and family when they pop into my mind 5....

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George

Submitted to Contest #231

Rhodesia declared a unilateral declaration of Independence from Britain in 1965 to avoid black rule.  A bush war erupted. Black freedom fighters attacked the white Rhodesian forces for control of the country which they called Zimbabwe. . Brady Barracks. Bulawayo. Rhodesia. Africa. 1973 “Why don’t they ever clean these shelves, George?” George shrugged. She expected musty smells and silverfish when she sorted through old files A comfortable feeling. “I suppose the dust must be antique now.” George giggled, clicked shut the mottl...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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