OFTEN PUBLISHING HOUSES are seen as gatekeepers, one of many, that decide which work and whose stories are suitable for the industry. At Hush Harbour, our team recognizes the responsibility and privilege of working to create space for new stories. Our “For Us, By Us” ethos works against the popularization of diversity that hyper-simplifies and commodifies Black stories in ways that are harmful. For these reasons, we as a team strive to be spacemakers.
The day we launched, and in the subsequent weeks, we received an overwhelming amount of inquiries and submissions from the public. There was much excitement and a strong need for this type of press, and yet it was important to step back and ensure we were ready to receive submissions with intention and care. Being an independent press is not only about publishing what we want but also thinking through the stories that are needed. What does the CanLit landscape look like for Black folk? Where are the apparent gaps and the not-so-obvious gaps? How do we house stories for Black folks within the diaspora, far and near?