Calvin Baker facts for kids

Calvin Baker (born in 1972) is an American writer. He writes novels, teaches, and works as an editor. His books often tell stories about the African-American experience, from early times to today. He focuses on Black voices and their history across the Atlantic Ocean.

He explores ideas about what it means to be American, different cultures, and how history and places shape people. People often praise his writing for being broad and using rich, beautiful language. He has taught at famous universities like Yale College, Skidmore College, and Columbia University.

About Calvin Baker

Early Life and Education

Calvin Baker was born in Chicago, Illinois. He went to the University of Chicago Lab Schools. In 1994, he graduated from Amherst College with top honors in English.

His Books and Stories

His first novel, Naming the New World, was published in 1998. He was only 23 years old when it was sold to a publisher. The story starts in Africa before Europeans arrived and ends in modern America. It uses special writing styles to connect different times through one character's thoughts. Many magazines, including Time, said he was a major new voice in American writing.

His second novel, Once Two Heroes (2003), tells two stories at once. One story is about a white character, and the other is about a Black character. It looks at the connection between America and Europe in the mid-1900s. The book explores violence during World War II and the sad history of racial lynching in America.

His third novel, Dominion (2006), is about America before the American Revolution. It explores the early promises of the country and how a system of racial groups began. It also looks at the feeling of loss that early settlers, both Black and white, experienced.

Grace, published in 2015, explores how our inner feelings connect with the places we live. It also looks at how logical and emotional thoughts work together. The book shows the difference between our public and private selves.

In 2020, Baker published his first nonfiction book. It is called A More Perfect Reunion: Race, Integration, and the Future of America. This book shares his thoughts on important topics like race and how people come together in America.

Awards and Recognition

In 2005, Esquire magazine named Calvin Baker one of the best young writers in America. His novel Dominion was a finalist for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. It was also named one of Newsday's Best Books of the Year.

Many critics and writers have praised his work. Famous writers like Joseph O'Neill and Junot Díaz have spoken highly of his books. One critic, Dale Peck, called Baker one of his favorite living writers. He said Baker's work is like that of very famous authors such as William Faulkner and Toni Morrison.

Other Work and Teaching

In 2017, Calvin Baker helped relaunch the Evergreen Review. This was an important literary magazine that helped make writers like Samuel Beckett and Jean-Paul Sartre famous.

Early in his career, Baker worked as a journalist. He wrote for newspapers like the New Orleans Times-Picayune and The Village Voice. His articles have also appeared in Harper's Magazine and The New York Times Magazine.

He wrote a long story called Notes for a Spanish Odyssey. It was about race and migration in Spain. This story is now part of the New York Public Library's digital collection.

Calvin Baker has taught English at Yale University and Columbia University. He also taught American studies at the University of Leipzig in Germany. He helped start a digital content company called ScrollMotion. Today, Calvin Baker lives in Saratoga Springs, New York.

See also

In Spanish: Calvin Baker para niños