The Black Girl Survives in This One: "Local Color" by Eden Royce

by Desiree S. Evans, Saraciea J. Fennell
Here are links to our lists in the anthology: Harvesters, Welcome Back To The Cosmos, Ghost Light, The Brides Of Devil’s Bayou, TMI, Black Pride, The Screamers, Queeniums For Greenium!, Inheritance, Black Girl Nature Group, Cemetery Dance Party, The Skittering Thing, The Black Strings, Local Color, Foxhunt
15 words 7 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. aforementioned
    being the one previously spoken of
    An entry caught her attention:
    Plat-eye (n.): shape-altering creature of Gullah origin, used to guard treasure of aforementioned people.
  2. careen
    move at high speed and in an uncontrolled way
    She shook her head, sending light careening over the walls.
  3. decipher
    make out the meaning of
    The cursive handwriting was almost impossible to decipher.
  4. atlas
    a collection of maps in book form
    Once he’d seen her in the library, hunched over a dusty old atlas, almost falling asleep.
  5. grotesque
    ludicrously odd
    It felt like a fairy tale, a grotesque story to frighten little kids.
  6. afterthought
    an addition that was not included in the original plan
    An afterthought of a park that held only grass, edged by a line of mature oak and hickory trees.
  7. stride
    walk with long steps
    She touched it to her tongue, then strode off, the blossom still between her lips.
  8. gullible
    naive and easily deceived or tricked
    When nothing happened, she berated herself for being so gullible.
  9. contort
    twist and press out of shape
    Her breath stopped as she watched the lump lengthen and contort as it moved along the furry back.
  10. appendage
    an external body part that projects from the body
    It warmed, grew fever hot, then protruded from the skin like another appendage.
  11. waft
    blow gently
    He was skyscraper tall, and the scent of him was incredible—some kind of beard oil or cologne wafted around him.
  12. onslaught
    an offensive against an enemy
    Another silhouette fell under the onslaught of her shovel, withering to the ground.
  13. confining
    restricting the scope or freedom of action
    The rest of the creatures surrounded her, confining her in a wide circle.
  14. lure
    provoke someone to do something through persuasion
    The sheen of the widening eye, luring her like a candle in the dark.
  15. overzealous
    marked by excessive enthusiasm for a cause or idea
    “Perhaps I was too overzealous in my duties as your protector. But the events of tonight have shown you’re ready to search for your parents. Ready for an adventure.”
Created on Wed Sep 10 03:57:09 EDT 2025 (updated Fri Sep 12 11:27:46 EDT 2025)

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