Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence
American literary award
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence is an annual national literary award designed to recognize rising African-American fiction writers. First awarded in 2007, the prize is underwritten by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in honor of the literary heritage provided by author Ernest J. Gaines, with the winner receiving a cash award (US$15,000 as of 2020[update]) "to support and enable the writer to focus on writing."[1] It has been described as "the nation's biggest prize for African-American writers".[2]
Awarded forrising African American fiction authors
Sponsored byBaton Rouge Area Foundation
LocationBaton Rouge
CountryUnited States
| Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence | |
|---|---|
| |
| Awarded for | rising African American fiction authors |
| Sponsored by | Baton Rouge Area Foundation |
| Location | Baton Rouge |
| Country | United States |
| Eligibility | Black American fiction authors |
| Reward | US$15,000 |
| First award | 2007 |
| Currently held by | Aaliyah Bilal |
| Website | Official website |
Past winners
| Year | Author | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Olympia Vernon | A Killing in This Town | [5] |
| 2008 | Ravi Howard | Like Trees, Walking | [6] |
| 2009 | Jeffery Renard Allen | Holding Pattern: Stories | |
| 2010 | Victor LaValle | Big Machine | [7] |
| 2011 | Dinaw Mengestu | How to Read the Air | [8] |
| 2012 | Stephanie Powell Watts | We Are Taking Only What We Need | [9] |
| 2013 | Attica Locke | The Cutting Season | [10][11] |
| 2014 | Mitchell S. Jackson | The Residue Years | [12] |
| 2015 | T. Geronimo Johnson | Welcome to Braggsville | [13] |
| 2016 | Crystal Wilkinson | The Birds of Opulence | [14] |
| 2017 | Ladee Hubbard | The Talented Ribkins | [15] |
| 2018 | Jamel Brinkley | A Lucky Man | [16] |
| 2019 | Bryan Washington | Lot | [17][18][19] |
| 2020 | Gabriel Bump | Everywhere You Don't Belong | [20][21] |
| 2021 | Nathan Harris | The Sweetness of Water | [22] |
| 2022 | Jacinda Townsend | Mother Country | [23] |
| 2023 | Aaliyah Bilal | Temple Folk | [24][25] |
| 2024 | Essie Chambers | Swift River | [26] |
| 2025 | Rob Franklin | Great Black Hope | [27] |