Posted on October 4, 2021 at 11:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
In just a few weeks, the first Maya Angelou Book Award for poetry will be handed out.
The award will honor an outstanding piece of American fiction or poetry that focuses on social justice and inclusion (and give its author $10,000).
The Kansas City Public Library and six Missouri universities have teamed up to create and offer the award, which alternates between fiction and poetry.
2021’s award, for poetry, will be handed out to one of these finalists on October 20:
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Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry, by John Murillo.
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Pilgrim Bell, by Kaveh Akbar.
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Postcolonial Love Poem, by Natalie Diaz.
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Sometimes I Never Suffered, by Shane McCrae.
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The Wild Fox of Yemen, by Threa Almontaser.
Angelou’s son and other literary experts spoke with Literary Hub about the importance of the award, both to society at large and to Angelou’s memory.
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Categories: Today in Books