D. Watkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
D. Watkins
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Watkins in December 2022
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| Born | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Johns Hopkins University (M.Ed) Johns Hopkins University (Cert) University of Baltimore (MFA) |
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| Spouse | Caron Brace |
| Children | Cross Watkins |
Dwight "D." or "Doc" Watkins (born February 10) is a well-known author and a writer for HBO. He also teaches at the University of Baltimore. He is a New York Times bestselling author from East Baltimore.
Contents
Early Life and Education
D. Watkins went to Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He later graduated from Johns Hopkins University. This university recognized him as a Distinguished Alumnus. They also welcomed him into their special Society of Scholars.
In August 2019, Watkins married Caron Brace, who is a lawyer. He has received several awards for his writing. In 2020, he won City Lit's Dambach Award for helping with literature. In 2021, he received the MLA William Wilson Maryland Author Award.
Watkins helped write the bestselling book Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised. This book is a memoir by basketball star Carmelo Anthony. Watkins also worked as a staff writer for the HBO miniseries We Own This City. This show was created by David Simon.
Watkins earned a Master's degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University. He also has a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing from the University of Baltimore.
Writing Career
D. Watkins has written several important books. He shares stories and ideas about life in America.
The Beastside: Living (and Dying) While Black in America
Watkins's first book, The Beastside, came out in 2015. It was published by Hot Books, an imprint known for investigative books. In 2016, The Beastside was nominated for the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award. This award celebrates great writing by Black authors.
We Speak For Ourselves
We Speak For Ourselves was published in April 2019. This book is a collection of essays. It shares the voices and experiences of Black people in East Baltimore. In 2020, this book was chosen for the Enoch Pratt Free Library's "One Book Baltimore" program. This program encourages everyone in the city to read the same book.
Where Tomorrow's Aren't Promised
Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised was released in 2021. For this book, Watkins worked with NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony. The book tells Anthony's life story. It covers his journey from challenging neighborhoods in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and West Baltimore to becoming an NBA player. Reviewers praised Watkins for helping to shape the story while keeping Anthony's true voice.
Black Boy Smile: A Memoir in Moments
Black Boy Smile was published in 2022. This book explores Watkins's life through the idea of masculinity. It also talks about his efforts to change harmful habits. The famous poet Nikki Giovanni highly recommended Black Boy Smile. She said it is a book "all young men should read."
Booklist called Black Boy Smile one of the top ten memoirs of 2022. Kirkus Reviews also listed it among the best nonfiction books and best books about Black life in 2022. They described it as "A startling and moving celebration of a brutal life transformed by language and love."
The New York Public Library included Black Boy Smile on its list of best books for adults in 2022. Shelf Awareness also named it one of the best books of the year.
The Wire: The Complete Visual History
The Wire: The Complete Visual History was published in 2022. After the success of HBO's We Own This City, Watkins worked with The Wire creator David Simon. This book looks back at the critically acclaimed TV show The Wire.
Salon
Currently, D. Watkins is an editor at large for the online magazine Salon.
