Today's Little Known Black History Fact

The Pulitzer Prize was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of American (Hungarian-born) publisher Joseph Pulitzer. There are 21 categories in which entries are submitted for consideration; the nominees are then selected from these entrants.

The first African American to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize in Literature also holds the distinction of being the first African American woman.  Gwendolyn Brooks was awarded the prize in Poetry in 1950 for her work  Annie Allen.

Since 1950 Gwendolyn Brooks has been joined by other illustrious names, such as Scott Joplin in 1976 for Music, Alex Haley in 1977 for his book Roots, and Alice Walker in 1983 in the Fiction category for The Color Purple. In the history of the Pulitzer Prize, the list of African Americans who have been awarded one is quite long; unfortunately, there is a stain on that history. In 1981 Janet Leslie Cooke wrote a story entitled Jimmy's World which was supposedly the story of an 8 year old heroin addict; the story was false, and the Pulitzer Prize which Cooke had won for it had to be returned by the Washington Post.

While there were some who claimed that her actions led to black journalists not being as credible as before, it didn't stop Pulitzer Prizes from going to other black writers. As a matter fact, today's little known black history fact is about one of those writers.

On this day, March 31, 1988, Novelist Toni Morrison was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her book, Beloved.



For more information on:
Pulitzer Prize
Gwendolyn Brooks
Janet Cooke
Toni Morrison