Hanif Abdurraqib has won the 2024 Voice of the Heartland Award, sponsored by the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association and honoring people who have made "significant contributions to the literary community, reflecting the values and diversity of the Heartland."
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| Photo: © Kendra Bryant | |
The award will be presented at the Heartland Fall Forum Book Awards Ceremony on Monday, October 7, in Milwaukee, Wis., which will celebrate Abdurraqib's remarkable contributions to literature and unwavering commitment to amplifying marginalized voices both within and without his community.
Poet, essayist, cultural critic, and proud Ohioan, Abdurraqib has "captivated readers with his insightful explorations of music, culture, and identity," the associations said. His work--including A Little Devil in America and They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, published by Two Dollar Radio--has resonated deeply with readers, earning him widespread recognition and numerous accolades. Abdurraqib's latest work, There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension (published by Random House earlier this year), was also voted the 2024 Heartland Booksellers Award winner for nonfiction.