Black Hand Side: Stories

by Ran Walker

In his second major story collection, Ran Walker takes on issues of race, cultural appropriation, politics, family, relationships, and the value of Black lives.

In the title story, two young men go to participate in a handshake competition but find themselves up against an obstacle they did not anticipate. In “The Impersonator” a comedian finds a job that ultimately contributes to the legacy of another person. In “The Box” a college student home for vacation investigates whether his elderly Caucasian neighbor is holding the soul of a lynched Black man in a box. In “My Best Friend is Black” a recent college grad accepts a job as a friend to the 1 percenters. In the thirteen stories in this collection, Walker uses satire, humor, and horror to weave a tapestry of timely themes that are sure to resonate with readers.

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2016

About the author

Ran Walker is the author of four novels (The Keys of My Soul, B-Sides and Remixes, 30 Love, and Mojo's Guitar), two novellas (Beat Bop and Afro Nerd in Love), and two short story collections (Secrets & Cures and 16 Bars). His short stories and poetry have appeared in a variety of anthologies.

Ran is the recipient of both a 2005 Mississippi Arts Commission/NEA artist grant and a 2006 artist mini-grant, and he has also served as an Artist-in-Residence with the Commission. In addition, he is a past participant in the Hurston-Wright Writers Week Workshop and is the recipient of a fellowship from the Callaloo Writers Workshop.

In addition to writing, Ran is a songwriter and music publisher with ASCAP and 1/2 of the electronic soul production team Groovault. Groovault released The Liquid Dream EP in 2011 and continues to work with a variety of up-and-coming artists. When Ran is not writing books or composing music, he is working on his iPhoneography and storytelling skills.

Ran is an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Hampton University and lives in Virginia with his wife and much better half, Lauren, and his amazing little rockstar daughter, Zoë.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short collection of well-written short stories.