Ruth Lilly Prize Awarded to Black Fire This Time Poets

The Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, awarded annually to one living US poet with an award of $100,000 in recognition of their outstanding lifetime achievement, was awarded to three poets anthologized in Black Fire This Time, Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez and Haki Madhubuti. The award was extended to 11 recipients for this year. The critically acclaimed anthology … Continue reading Ruth Lilly Prize Awarded to Black Fire This Time Poets

Willow Launches Weeksville Summer Arts Residency

"The Future of the Arts, with an Eye on the Past." That's the motto for Willow's grand vision for its upcoming decennial (okay, that's still a strange word to me--i.e., Willow's 10th anniversary). Watch for announcements on our upcoming multidisciplinary Arts Residencies. Our new era kicks off with the first-ever Weeksville Summer Arts Residency July … Continue reading Willow Launches Weeksville Summer Arts Residency

Dreaming the Future of YA Literature, Part 3

As we close this out "I read YA" week, guest blogger Curtis L. Crisler explains why there’s still a great disparity when it comes to YA books for young black male readers. Crisler’s bestselling Dreamist: a mixed genre novel, is geared towards today’s youth, a unique genre-bending narrative of the life of one remarkable young man, Charles Malik … Continue reading Dreaming the Future of YA Literature, Part 3