Blank Selection

Blank Selection is a term instituted by Wendy Beach (Editor-in-Chief, Wild Whispers Poetry Magazine) to replace the common ableist “blind selection” label still in use (referring to anonymous editorial processes), and is retained as no alternative terminology currently exists. Blank Selection as a new term replaces the ableist “blind selection” practice, where judges assess poems without knowing poets’ names. The name consciously parallels blank verse’s liberation from formalist restrictions, extending this ethos to combat restrictive language in editorial processes.

The poetry competition had a blank selection process to keep it fair.

by Windy Beach April 16, 2025

Selective Black

Describes an individual who engages with Black identity, culture, or community on a conditional basis—supporting aspects that align with their comfort, image, or personal gain while distancing from deeper commitments that require solidarity, sacrifice, or accountability. Often expressed through an “à la carte” mindset, this approach embraces certain expressions of Blackness while neglecting or excluding others—particularly at the intersections of queerness, disability, and marginalized gender identities. It reflects a curated connection to Blackness that prioritizes optics over liberation, and preference over principle.

The everyday use of “Black pride” on social media, while dismissing the struggles of Black LGBTQIA+ folks, revealed a Selective Black mindset—an à la carte approach to identity that prioritizes aesthetics over collective liberation.

by Tamtheeicon June 24, 2025