Read Hannah's Story 'Heartbeat' in Burn Black #2: The 'Loss' Issue by ordering at: burnblackzine.bigcartel.com

Read Mike's Full Story by Ordering at: burnblackzine.bigcartel.com

The Living Room By: Drea, New Jersey

Burn Black asked me to share a story on my identity. It 2 A.M. as the warm East Orange air filters through the crack of the window at my best friend’s apartment. I am lying on her synthetic suede reclining sofa bed that has been through hell and back. If this sofa could talk- the memories it would bring up from our childhood would be remarkable. I remember lying on this couch when it was at her grandmother’s house fifteen years ago when I was a very different person, when I was a weaker person. I may have changed- but this neighborhood remains the same. I was raised in a house tormented by violence. By the time I was sixteen years old, both of my brothers were in the prison system and my first boyfriend was shot and killed while bringing his grandmother groceries back home before church. This was normal in an environment like this. Most people in my high school dropped out before hitting junior year. The streets will scoop you up and steal your soul any way they can. My salvation came when my second home became my best friend’s grandmother’s living room. There I was told to believe in myself. I was told that poverty cannot dictate your destiny only choosing to not be a hard worker and a free thinker will hold you back. It was there I learned the magic of being told I was good enough, and how motivation in the right places can elevate you personally as well as physically. It was those talks that got me into Cornell University, where I will be graduating next year. It is 90 degrees tonight and nights like this you would think I’d avoid being over here at all. There is something about the heat that brings out the worst in people in this neighborhood. I hear wind chimes faintly blowing in the breeze behind a symphony of police sirens, occasional music as a car drives by, and a car alarm here and there. These are the sounds of my childhood. I hear gunshots most nights I am on this couch too, sounds my childhood is all too familiar with. These are reminders to me it is good I am alive. It is good this is no longer my home. However, every once in a while it is important to come back to the neighborhood and lay on this couch just to appreciate how far I have come. This neighborhood is part of my identity and cannot run away from it. It is the root that lifted me to enlightenment in this world. Once the neighborhood owns you, it no longer becomes a physical place as a part of your being. You can’t run from it no matter how far you have come to appreciate your surroundings. The struggle builds character; it is as rich as the soil in the ground to implant you to greater things. It is important to remind yourself of these roots from time to time. To know where you came from is to know one ’s self.

Read Kevin's full story 'Cool To Be You' in Burn Black #4 Volume #1: The Identity Issue by ordering at: burnblackzine.bigcartel.com

Read Alexis' full story 'The Bucket List' in Burn Black 3: burnblackzine.bigcartel.com

Read Alexandra's full story by ordering Burn Black Issue 3 at: burnblackzine.bigcartel.com

Hi Everyone! I have started a complimentary blog to the zine, Burn Black I started almost a year ago. For anyone who has not already read Burn Black here is a little info. 

Burn Black Zine is a collection of raw stories of how people turn the tragedies and setbacks they have been through into triumphs or how they managed to survive. Burn Black is a sociological project to both comfort and unite. It is a place where we can genuinely look at a person to see what is in their heart. 

Along with the stories we share, we print photo essays that explore these same ideals and interview bands not only on their current musical projects but on the theme our bi-monthly stories are about. 

My goal for this blog is to make this an extension of our zine. These are our stories and this blog is as much yours and as it is mine. If you have any suggestions, questions, or want to get invoved, feel free to e-mail them to: burnblackzine@gmail.com

Purchase a copy of Burn Black here: burnblackzine.bigcartel.com