Who is Desiree McCray?
Desiree McCray entered the world, hailing from Chicago, Illinois. A womanist scholar and writer, she channels her creativity into crafting poetry and scholarly research, delving into themes of race, gender, class, and the intersection of black religion and culture. McCray, a poet, released two collections of poems: “Hope Among Other Foods” in 2021 and “Send A Refreshing” in 2023 (see below.) Their work is forthcoming in Femme Literati: Mixtape Anthology for Black Women Edition Three by Genre: Urban Arts. Her chapbook My Sisters Look Like God (June 2024) is forthcoming with Abode Press. Black Feminist Collective, Gal’s Guide Anthology, and RAGE Zine will all echo her womanist words in 2024. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Missouri–Columbia (2018), McCray fulfills her calling as a writer, minister of justice, and educator. Desiree McCray graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ, earning a Master’s in Divinity in 2021.
What does Desiree McCray write?
Hope Among Other Foods: a concoction of fat girl poetry by Desiree McCray has ranging topics of racial marginalization, body, image, natural hair, navigating relationships, and womanhood. Feeding the soul while echoing a black religious experience, these words form a grand anthem of self-love, self-recognition, and self-definition.
“Passionate”
Desiree writes with feeling and emotion-anon
“Inspiring”
Her words inspire me and make me want to write- anon
“She has a way with words”
Her magical poetry speaks for itself
The art of prayer simply requires a conversation with God. In Send A Refreshing: Poetic Prayers of an Intercessor, you will find prayers that refresh the souls, restore the spirit, and renew the mind. Send A Refreshing covers prayer points of rejection and doubt; transformation and transition; healing, revival and so much more. In a true prophetic and poetic form, McCray’s prayers are forged out of a real and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. McCray’s lyrical writing calls believers to the deep end, to foster intimacy with God. Rich in theology, Send A Refreshing can be used for both public worship and private time with the Creator.
Forthcoming
My Sisters Look Like God by Desiree McCray, coming in June 2024!
Forthcoming with Abode Press, “My Sisters Look Like God” transcends the boundaries of my previous writings by intricately weaving together the threads of an inherited faith, identity, and womanhood, creating a seamless narrative that resonates with a more nuanced perspective. In some ways, this book is a departure from the familiar, amplifying the voices of my ancestors and celebrating the richness of cultural heritage in ways I never have explored before. The themes of body positivity and faith, which have been through lines in my previous works, remain and take center stage alongside an unapologetic admiration of black identity. “My Sisters Look Like God” manifests as a testament to growth, both personally and artistically, as it pushes boundaries and expands the horizons of my literary exploration. I believe readers will find this collection to be a vibrant and authentic reflection of intersectional layers that shape the human condition. I hope readers will find resonance in these pages, fostering empathy, understanding, and a shared celebration of our dynamic, multifaceted identities.
What’s my mission?
To heal, inspire, educate, liberate, and change the world through sharing a few words at a time.
“All that you touch
― Octavia E. Butler
You Change.
All that you Change
Changes you.
The only lasting truth
is Change.
God
is Change.”
desforpres 