Letter From the Chairman Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Thoughtful, provocative writing about cultural identity has been rare in this country, so that makes it even more remarkable that in 1935 -- 20 years before the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown vs. The Board of Education -- a Cleveland poet with a strong sense of social justice created a book prize to honor writers who have contributed to our understanding of race and racism. Over time, many outstanding works of fiction and non-fiction have been selected for the prize. The list starts with such legendary storytellers as Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston and Alan Paton; includes four Nobel Prize winners: Wole Soyinka, Toni Morrison, Nadine Gorimer, and Derek Walcott; and continues with compelling chroniclers: David Levering Lewis, Samantha Power and Jill Lepore.
Because of the importance of its mission and focus, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards have also attracted exceptionally strong juries. For the past several years I have been privileged to serve as Jury Chair, alongside four internationally-known writers and scholars: Rita Dove, Joyce Carol Oates, Steven Pinker and Simon Schama. We look forward to highlighting the creative voices that remind us of our shared humanity.
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Chairman
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Jury
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Chairman
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