American History

Today, the Gotham Book Prize, an annual award first created in the early months of the pandemic to encourage and honor writing about New York City, announced the winners of its fifth-annual prize: Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York’s Greatest Borough by Ian Frazier and Movement: New York’s Long War to Take Back It Streets from the Car by Nicole Gelinas. The two winners, as selected by a jury made up of leading New Yorkers and authors, will split the $50,000 prize.

We are thrilled to announce that Julia Bouwsma, an esteemed author and poet with Fordham University Press, has been named one of the 2024 Poet Laureate Fellows by the Academy of American Poets. This prestigious honor recognizes poets of exceptional talent and dedication to their craft, and we are proud to see Bouwsma’s incredible work celebrated on this national platform.

Today, August 2, would have been James Baldwin’s 100th birthday, marking the centennial of a literary giant whose work remains as relevant as ever. His writings continue to challenge societal norms and shape discussions on race, sexuality, and social justice, inspiring generations to strive for a more equitable world.