Author-playwright Jessica Hagedorn, novelist R.F. Kuang, and poet Monica Youn are among the distinguished laureates of the 45th annual American Book Awards, celebrating exceptional literary contributions across the diverse landscape of America’s artistic and cultural community. The esteemed accolades were revealed by the nonprofit Before Columbus Foundation, founded by Ishmael Reed in 1976 to advocate for multicultural literature.
The winners of this year’s awards present a rich array of voices, encompassing a wide spectrum of backgrounds and talents. From the late Rabbi Michael Lerner, a prominent figure in progressive publication Tikkun, to Latino poet and performer Paul S. Flores, to Asna Tabassum, a recent graduate from the University of Southern California whose valedictorian speech was canceled due to contentions regarding her advocacy for Palestinians.
Among the recognized works were R.F. Kuang’s “Yellowface,” a bestselling satirical take on the world of book publishing, Monica Youn’s collection of poems titled “From From,” Paul S. Flores’ captivating “We Still Be: Poems and Performances,” Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel “Independence,” Debra Magpie Earling’s poignant “The Lost Journals of Sacajewea,” and Barbara D. Savage’s illuminating “Merze Tate: The Global Odyssey of a Black Woman Scholar.”
Jessica Hagedorn, acclaimed for her renowned novel “Dogeaters,” and the late Rabbi Michael Lerner both received recognition for their remarkable lifetime achievements. Asna Tabassum was honored with an award for her stance against censorship, while critical acclaim was bestowed upon Mehdi Hasan’s “Zeteo” and Lynnée Denise’s exploration of the significance of Willie Mae Thornton in “Why Willie Mae Thornton Matters.”