The Legacy Awards
Present
The Zoras
A new way of renewing the recognition of Black excellence in our literary world
In tribute to the enduring impact of Zora Neale Hurston on American
literature, the Hurston/Wright Foundation has renamed the genre awards
for fiction, non-fiction, debut fiction and poetry as The Zoras. The
Zora Awards will be presented during our annual Hurston/Wright Legacy
Awards.
The 25th annual Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards will be held on Friday, October 9, 2026 in Washington D.C. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library at 7 pm.
To purchase tickets, please click the link below.
The Legacy Awards
Present
The Zoras
A new way of renewing the recognition of Black excellence in our literary world!
In tribute to the enduring impact of Zora Neale Hurston on American literature, the Hurston/Wright Foundation has renamed the genre awards for fiction, non-fiction, debut fiction and poetry as The Zoras. The Zora Awards will be presented during our annual Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards.
The 25th annual Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards will be held on Friday, October 9, 2026 in Washington D.C. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library at 7 pm.
To purchase tickets, please click the link below.
2026 Legacy Awards
The Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation is proud to present the 2026 Legacy Awards finalists, celebrating the excellence of Black writers in various categories. The awards will be presented during the 25th annual Legacy Awards Gala on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Debut Fiction
The Tiny Things Are Heavier, Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo
This Here is Love Princess, Joy L. Perry
Ibis, Justin Haynes
Fiction
Chronicles of Ori, Harmonia Rosales
Casualties of Truth, Lauren Francis Sharma
People Like Us, Jason Mott
Non-Fiction
Dandelion: A Memoir in Essays, Danielle Bainbridge
Yet Here I Am, Jonathan Capehart
The Conjuring of America, Lindsey Stewart
Poetry
I Imagine I Been Science Fiction Always, Doug Kearney
New and Collected Hell: A Poem, Shane McCrae
Reprise, Golden
Poetry (College)
lady pistol whip, Alyssa Barge
My Husband, Wilhemina Lawerh-Lawerh
Crossover
Light in Word Form, Michael LeRoy Williamson
You’re Exactly His Type, Natasha Davis
Voices That Inspire — In Their Own Words
Hear from past honorees, participants, and supporters about the powerful impact of the Hurston/Wright Foundation and the Zora Awards.
Be apart of the celebration
Join us for the 35th Anniversary and the inaugural presentation of the Zora Awards—honoring excellence in Black literature.
Partner in the Power of Storytelling
Celebrate 35 years of impact—support the Zora Awards as a sponsor and make a lasting contribution to Black literature and the efforts of Black Writers.
The deadline for ads is September 26, 2025. Ads should be sent to info@hurstonwright.org.
Debut Fiction
