[Letter from the Editors] In a time of War

In June 2025 we invited submissions for a microdossier on the theme “In a time of War” which at the time seemed pressing and is now even more so as we bear witness to the geopolitical shifts that have left the worlds most vulnerable populations exposed to the disabling forces of war, white supremacy, genocide, enclosure, famine, disappearance, and destierro. We wanted to create a space to share reflections on the contemporary moment, from distinct points of view and lived experiences. We feel honored that the authors have entrusted us with their works and we hope that you find the time and space to read these words with the sustained attention they deserve. Storytelling, after all, is a central feature of human life, a way through which we mark the world we live in and reflect on the phenomena of the ordinary, extraordinary, and unimaginable. 

In a time of war, our writers declare, “I want to live…look for me everywhere”(CM). From wartime Punjab to Bahia, “pedagogies of endurance” (GK) remind us of what is possible, even as they contemplate the enclosures we collectively exist within. May this microdossier root the affective whirlwind of this moment. May we look to each other and know, we are still here. With names. With stories. With proof of lives lived. With survival at the fore. The writers underscore the truths: “War doesn't bypass universities” (KM) and mothering is a radical praxis that is laden with grief, fear, and hope: “we birth a guerrilla-war-like way of survival, a théâtre de résistance” (SC).

Electric Marrongage (est. 2018) has always been a digital space for experimental writing, insurgent thought, and reflective collages, moodboards, and digital exhibitions. Through the digital we cultivate the cimarrón technologies that render us opaque, keep us vigilant, and expands our communities. The writers in this dossier stand clear, “Writing is never neutral” (GP) and that in practices of solidarity it “takes work to embrace vulnerability” (JAQ). Together, the writers in this microdossier remind us about the power of learning each others histories, of holding on to one another in a time of war. Across seas and geographies, by reading and relating we gather; “you gather me” says an author (da). Indeed, we feel for each other’s presence, breath each other’s air, celebrate our holy days of rest, and mourn each other’s loss.

In fierce solidarity and with love,

Dr. Nadejda Jahi Webb, Lead Editor

Dr. Yomaira Figueroa-Vásquez, Co-Director