The Hurston/Wright Foundation’s mission is to provide services, supports and opportunities that mentor, recognize and provide community for professional and aspiring Black writers. Workshops and classes taught by award-winning authors serve emerging and midcareer adult writers. More than a thousand Black writers have taken our classes since the first one in 1996, increasing diversity in the cultural community as they have gone on to create books and careers as professors, local cultural workers, and national thought leaders. Our first program, the Hurston/Wright Awards for College Writers, has honored 92 students, 30 of whom subsequently published books. Among them are Tayari Jones (An American Marriage), Natalie Baszile (Queen Sugar) and Nate Marshall (Wild Hundreds). The Legacy Awards has honored more than 400 writers since 2002. The annual program was the brainchild of the late award-winning novelist E. Lynn Harris, who recognized that work by Black authors deserved more attention. Free public readings and events since 2014 have afforded thousands of readers in Washington, D.C., the opportunity to engage with hundreds of talented Black authors. Through a social justice lens, our work provides the necessary services, supports and opportunities for Black writers seeking to publish work within a publishing industry that has traditionally failed to publish work by Black writers proportionate to their population. We also recognize that our social activism aids in disrupting systems that hinder Black writers from having access to certain opportunities—from writing residencies to participation in quality writing workshops and craft talks.
Our newest program for writers is our Hurston/Wright Writer-in-Residence program that begins this year. Our inaugural Writers-in-Residence (WiRs) are Destiny O. Birdsong and Shayla Lawz.
What is the Hurston/Wright Writer-in-Residence Program?
In a 2003 interview with The New Yorker, famed writer Toni Morrison shared that finding time to write was a challenge that she had to push through. She said, “I stole time to write. Writing was my other job—I always kept it over there, away from my ‘real’ work as an editor or teacher.” Her plight easily describes the experiences of many Black writers who don’t have the opportunities to devote to writing without the burden of lack of time, economic freedom, and privacy. The Hurston/Wright Writer-in-Residence (WIR) Program aims to provide published Black writers with dedicated space and funding to focus on their writing craft and individual writing projects. This program strives to enable them to make meaningful impact on emerging Black writers and the community-at-large through workshops and community events.
In partnership with vetted colleges/universities, the Hurston/Wright WIR program provides free housing, a stipend of $15,000 and extended time to focus on writing projects. This year, our writers will be housed at Rutgers University and Virginia Tech University. Selected participants enjoy opportunities to connect with other writers, share their craft with emerging writers as workshop instructors, present their published work with the surrounding community and find support through valuable mentorship opportunities. The Hurston/Wright WIR Program builds a viable pipeline of Black writers through intentional peer-supported engagement, culturally competent mentorship, and financial support. Selected Writers-in-Residence during the first year were selected by a panel of esteemed Black writers who vetted a list of candidates for consideration. Subsequent candidates will be vetted and selected by Hurston/Wright staff through a publicized nomination and application process.
Apply now to participate in a writing retreat facilitated by one of our 2022 WiRs!