Sana, Sana

“Praise forever to the warrior healers who transform the world by opening their hearts. This anthology models the self-compassion that we need to live as our complex evolving selves. These writers are now my teachers for life. May we understand our healing as creation, reclamation, and multi-generational love. This book is here to bless you in all directions.” —Alexis Pauline Gumbs, PhD, author of Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals and Dub: Finding Ceremony

“With Sana, Sana: Latinx Pain and Radical Visions for Healing and Justice, editors David Luis Glisch-Sánchez and Nic Rodríguez Villafañe have ushered forth a timely, biting anthology of Latinx perspectives on contemporary social and historical culture; as the social and the historical are framed by settler colonialism, capitalism, the violence of individual and collective trauma, antihuman phobias and other structures of dominance. The question raised here, grounded in Latinx, feminist and queer thought, in the idea that ‘healing requires witness,’ is, simply put, how can those of us who have been harmed intergenerationally and across worlds, across time, create and define what we mean by reparation(s). Sana, Sana arrives at a critical moment in twenty-first century abolitionist practice.” —Alexis De Veaux, author of JesusDevil: The Parables

“Sana, Sana is a transformative anthology that mixes raw emotions, trauma, self-awareness, politics, spirituality, and sometimes even humor. Shared narratives of pain and collective transformation are expressed through poetry, storytelling, and testimonios, envisioning a different kind of world. It is a manual for Latinx hope.” —Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes, author of Translocas: The Politics of Puerto Rican Drag and Trans Performance

“First you have to name it. Say it. Unearth it. Then stomp it. And scream. Twirl it. Open to the Sky and howl it. Cry. Step into the Circle. It’s ritual. Sacred Openings that beckon us to dance and laugh and Love and feel and heal anyway. This is what Sana, Sana gives us. Mirrors. Pathways. Shimmering Light. All of this and so much more. Now is the perfect time to read this book. And Receive.” —Sharon Bridgforth, writer, performing artist, and author of bull-jean & dem/dey back

“Without apology, the voices in this anthology reveal the complexities of living with pain while simultaneously pursuing healing and justice. Whether exploring the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, or class, these works remind us that we are never alone in our pain and do not have to be alone in our healing. These stories are rooted in the power of community, connection—and ultimately love. Sana, Sana demonstrates that we all have healing tools at our disposal whether that be music, prayer, Vicks VapoRub, sewing, or simply taking shots with a friend over Facetime. The poems and essays in this collection define the reclamation of our power to heal ourselves and our communities as holy work. This work is necessary, bold, unflinching, and a timely addition to contemporary Latinx literature.” —Elisabet Velasquez, author of When We Make It: A Nuyorican Novel