Diane McWhorter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Diane McWhorter
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| Born | November 1, 1952 (age 72) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
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Rebecca Diane McWhorter (born November 1, 1952) is an American journalist and author. She is known for writing about important topics like civil rights and the history of race in the United States. In 2002, she won the famous Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for her book Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama, the Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Diane McWhorter grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She went to the Brooke Hill School, which is now called The Altamont School.
A Movie Moment
When Diane was in elementary school, one of her classmates was Mary Badham. Mary played the character "Scout" Finch in the 1962 movie To Kill a Mockingbird. Diane and her classmates went on a school trip to watch the film.
The movie was about a black man who was treated unfairly. Diane remembered feeling confused and emotional. She had been taught certain beliefs about race. Crying for a black character in the movie felt like going against what she had learned. It was a powerful and eye-opening experience for her.
Diane McWhorter later graduated from Wellesley College in 1974.
Her Career as a Writer
Diane McWhorter has spent much of her career writing about race and the fight for civil rights in America. Her book, Carry Me Home, won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 2002. This award is one of the highest honors for writers in the U.S.
Books and Articles
Besides Carry Me Home, Diane also wrote A Dream of Freedom. This book is a history of the civil rights movement written especially for young adults. She has written for many well-known newspapers and magazines. These include The New York Times, USA Today, Slate, and Smithsonian.
Awards and Fellowships
Diane McWhorter has received many important awards and fellowships. These honors allow writers and scholars to spend time researching and writing. Some of these include:
- A Guggenheim Fellowship
- A Berlin Prize at the American Academy in Berlin
- A fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University
In 2015, she was chosen for the National Endowment for the Humanities' Public Scholar program. This program helps scholars write non-fiction books that everyone can enjoy. She is also a member of the Society of American Historians.
Current Projects
Currently, Diane McWhorter is working on a new book. It is called Moon over Alabama. This book will explore the story of Wernher von Braun and the U.S. space program in Alabama.
Family Life
Diane McWhorter married Richard Dean Rosen in 1987. They have two children together.
