Gregory Pardlo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gregory Pardlo
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Pardlo at the 2015 Texas Book Festival.
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| Born | November 24, 1968 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Rutgers University, Camden (BA) New York University (MFA) Columbia University (MFA) City University of New York |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Notable awards | Pulitzer Prize for Poetry |
Gregory Pardlo, born on November 24, 1968, is an American poet, writer, and teacher. He is famous for his poetry book Digest, which won the important Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2015. His poems and writings have been featured in many well-known magazines and even on National Public Radio. People praise his work for showing everyday life in a special way that everyone can understand.
Early Life and Education
Gregory Pardlo was born in Philadelphia, a big city in Pennsylvania. He grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey. His younger brother, Robbie Pardlo, is a musician who used to be in the R&B group City High. Gregory's father, Gregory Pardlo Sr., was an air traffic controller. He was part of a big strike by air traffic controllers in 1981.
In 1987, Gregory Pardlo joined the United States Marine Corps. After that, he managed a jazz club. He then went to Rutgers University-Camden and earned a degree in English. He continued his studies at New York University and Columbia University, where he earned advanced degrees in poetry and nonfiction writing. He also earned a PhD in English from the City University of New York.
Pardlo has received many special awards and grants to help him with his writing. These include honors from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Writing Career and Teaching
Gregory Pardlo's first book of poems was called Totem. It won the American Poetry Review / Honickman First Book Prize in 2007. This book was also a finalist for other important awards, like the Walt Whitman Award.
His poems have been chosen for The Best American Poetry anthology series multiple times. For example, his poem "Written by Himself" was in the 2010 collection. Another poem, "Wishing Well," appeared in the 2014 collection.
Pardlo also helps edit the literary journal Callaloo. He has led many writing workshops for different groups, helping other writers improve their skills. He has taught at several universities, including Columbia University and George Washington University.
In 2016, Pardlo became a professor in the English department at his old school, Rutgers University-Camden. As of 2023, he is a visiting professor at NYU Abu Dhabi. His collection of poems from 2024, Spectral Evidence, was considered for the National Book Award for Poetry.
Awards and Special Honors
Gregory Pardlo has received many awards for his excellent writing:
- 2015: Won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his book Digest.
- 2014: His poem "Wishing Well" was chosen for The Best American Poetry 2014.
- 2010: His poem "Written by Himself" was chosen for The Best American Poetry 2010.
- 2008: Totem was a finalist for the Essence Magazine Literary Award in Poetry.
- 2007: Won the American Poetry Review / Honickman First Book Prize for Totem.
- 2004: Won the Lotos Club Foundation Award for Creative Writing.
