-2013 LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD WINNER FOR DEBUT NOVEL-
NIK NICHOLSON
BLAQ
BLAQ: introduces the term Blaq to specifically name descendants of enslaved Africans who built America, distinguishing this group from the broader Black diaspora. The author argues that, like Haitians or Nigerians who have clear cultural identities, Blaq Americans deserve their own distinct recognition based on their unique history, culture, language, and experience shaped by surviving slavery and systemic oppression in the U.S.
The “q” in Blaq marks this distinct identity—a declaration of a specific American Black experience that includes creating culture from chaos and enduring centuries of betrayal and resilience. The work responds to ongoing efforts to erase or distort Black history, especially in certain U.S. states.
It also explores the complexity of Pan-Africanism, recognizing Africa as a diverse continent with histories of conflict and participation in slavery, complicating simple narratives of return or unity. The author addresses disputes over identity and reparations.
The lived reality of Blaq Americans—caught between identities, facing systemic racism and cultural erasure yet rooted deeply in American soil where their ancestors rest—is central to this work.
Ultimately, BLAQ is a poetic and historical declaration of identity and cultural reclamation. It calls for recognizing and honoring the distinct Blaq experience and contributions in America amid ongoing struggles to erase or diminish that legacy.
BLAQ
BLAQ: introduces the term Blaq to specifically name descendants of enslaved Africans who built America, distinguishing this group from the broader Black diaspora. The author argues that, like Haitians or Nigerians who have clear cultural identities, Blaq Americans deserve their own distinct recognition based on their unique history, culture, language, and experience shaped by surviving slavery and systemic oppression in the U.S.
The “q” in Blaq marks this distinct identity—a declaration of a specific American Black experience that includes creating culture from chaos and enduring centuries of betrayal and resilience. The work responds to ongoing efforts to erase or distort Black history, especially in certain U.S. states.
It also explores the complexity of Pan-Africanism, recognizing Africa as a diverse continent with histories of conflict and participation in slavery, complicating simple narratives of return or unity. The author addresses disputes over identity and reparations.
The lived reality of Blaq Americans—caught between identities, facing systemic racism and cultural erasure yet rooted deeply in American soil where their ancestors rest—is central to this work.
Ultimately, BLAQ is a poetic and historical declaration of identity and cultural reclamation. It calls for recognizing and honoring the distinct Blaq experience and contributions in America amid ongoing struggles to erase or diminish that legacy.
Cover of BLAQ: Nicholson's third collection of poetry, published in July 2025.
Queen of Non Sequiturs, Nicholson's second collection of poetry. Published June 2025
Second Edition of Descendants of Hagar published in 2017 by Apple and Pear Publishing, a small St. Louis Press.
Second Edition of Nicholson's first collection of poetry on dating, breaking up, relationships and love. Published by Apple and Pear Publishing, a small St. Louis press in 2017.
Solace is a collection of poetry and prose that explores our pain, as well as our attempts to find solace in a world that seeks to destroy us. What are our strategies for survival? Where do we find solace? Audre Lorde writes that “we were never meant to survive,” yet here we are.
Longing, Lust, and Love: Black Lesbian Stories is an anthology edited by Shonia Brown, published in 2007.