Adam Serwer facts for kids

Adam Serwer (born 1982) is an American journalist and author. He is a staff writer for The Atlantic magazine. His work often explores important topics like politics, race, and justice in America. Before joining The Atlantic, he wrote for other well-known publications such as BuzzFeed News and Mother Jones.

Adam Serwer has won several awards for his writing. These include honors from the National Association of Black Journalists and the Society of Professional Journalists. He also received the 2019 Hillman Prize for his opinion and analysis journalism.

About Adam Serwer

Early Life and Family

Adam Serwer grew up in Washington, D.C.. His father, Daniel Serwer, worked in the Foreign Service. This meant Adam spent some of his childhood living in other countries. His mother, Jacquelyn Serwer, is a chief curator at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. A curator is someone who manages and organizes collections, like those in a museum.

Adam's father is of European and Jewish background. His mother is African-American. He also has a brother named Jared.

Education and Journalism Career

Adam Serwer studied at Vassar College for his first degree. Later, he earned a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. After finishing school, he began his career as a writing fellow for The American Prospect.

He then worked for several other news outlets. These included Mother Jones, MSNBC, and The Washington Post. In 2014, he became the national editor at BuzzFeed News. In 2016, he joined The Atlantic as a senior editor.

Key Writings and Ideas

At The Atlantic, Adam Serwer writes about important issues. He often focuses on white supremacy, which is the belief that white people are superior to others. He also writes about race in America and the Trump administration.

Some of his most recognized essays include "The Nationalist's Delusion" and "White Nationalism's Deep American Roots." His essay "The Cruelty Is the Point," published in 2018, is especially well-known. In this essay, Serwer suggested that some policies of the Trump administration were not just harsh, but were designed to be cruel.

Adam Serwer has also appeared on various media shows. He discusses his writings and shares his insights on current events.

Awards and Recognition

In 2019, Adam Serwer received a fellowship from the Shorenstein Center. During this time, he researched the history of African Americans and their right to vote. He also won the 2019 Hillman Prize. This award recognized his important work on the rise of Trumpism and America's history of racism.

His first book, The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America, came out in 2021. It is a collection of his essays. The book became a New York Times Best Seller.

Personal Life

Adam Serwer is married and has one daughter, who was born in 2019. He practices Judaism and lives in San Antonio, Texas.

He often shares fun updates about his pets on social media. He has several orange cats, which he jokingly calls "the Garfields." In 2021, a dog named Korra also joined his family.

Works

Books

• The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America (2021)

Essays

• Serwer, Adam (June 9, 2022). "The One Group Who Could Make a Difference on Gun Control." The Atlantic.
• Serwer, Adam (July 23, 2022). "Is Democracy Constitutional?" The Atlantic.

Accolades

• 2012 – Salute to Excellence Awards, Magazines - Commentary/Essay, "All the President's Frenemies," NABJ
• 2012 – The Root 100, The Root
• 2013 – The Root 100, The Root
• 2015 – Sigma Delta Chi Award Honoree, Online Column Writing, "Race in America," Society of Professional Journalists
• 2018 – The Root 100, Media, The Root
• 2019 – Spring Fellow, Shorenstein Center
• 2019 – Lipman Fellow, Columbia Journalism School
• 2019 – Hillman Prize for Opinion & Analysis Journalism, Hillman Foundation
• 2019 – Forward 50, The Forward
• 2020 – Vernon Jarrett Medal, Morgan State University