Jabari Asim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jabari Asim
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Asim at the 2022 Texas Book Festival.
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| Born | August 11, 1962 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
| Genre | African American literature |
| Notable works | What Obama Means, The N Word |
Jabari Asim, born on August 11, 1962, is an American writer, poet, and teacher. He teaches writing and literature at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He used to be the main editor for The Crisis magazine. This magazine shares ideas about politics and culture and is published by the NAACP. It was started in 1910 by W. E. B. Du Bois. In 2019, he became a special fellow at Emerson College's Social Justice Center. By 2022, he was named a Distinguished Professor there.
Contents
Jabari Asim's Life and Work
Jabari Asim was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1962. He went to public schools in his hometown. Later, he studied at Northwestern University.
Early Career and Recognition
In 2007, Jabari Asim joined The Crisis magazine. The publisher, Roger Wilkins, said Asim was a skilled editor and writer. He also noted Asim's dedication to racial justice.
In 2009, Asim received a special award called a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. This award helps artists, scientists, and scholars with their work. He was one of 180 people chosen from many applicants.
From 2008 to 2010, Asim was a visiting scholar at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He focused on African-American Studies and Journalism.
Working at Newspapers
Jabari Asim worked for The Washington Post for eleven years, from 1996 to 2007. He held several important roles there. He was a deputy editor for the book review section. He also edited children's books and poetry. For three years, he wrote a column for the Post about political and social topics.
Before joining The Washington Post, Asim was the book editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. At that time, he was the only African American person in charge of book coverage at a major newspaper. He also worked as a copy editor and arts editor at the Post-Dispatch.
Jabari Asim now lives near Boston, Massachusetts, with his family. His son, G'Ra Asim, is also a writer and a professor.
Jabari Asim's Books
Jabari Asim has written many different kinds of books. He writes nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and books for young readers.
Nonfiction Books
Asim has written several nonfiction books. His book, We Can't Breathe: On Black Lives, White Lies and the Art of Survival, was published in 2018. This book is a collection of essays. It was a finalist for an award in 2018.
Another nonfiction book, The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn't, and Why, was recognized in 2008.
Fiction Books
Asim's first fiction book was A Taste of Honey, published in 2009. It is a collection of 16 stories. These stories are connected and take place in a made-up town called Gateway in 1968. The book was featured in Essence magazine. It was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2011.
His first novel, Only the Strong, came out in 2015. His second novel, Yonder, was published in 2022. The New York Times included Yonder on its list of 100 Notable Books of the Year. It also received an honor from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
Poetry Collections
Jabari Asim's poems have appeared in many different collections. These include African American Writers: A Literary Reader and Best American Poetry 2021. His first collection of poems, called Stop and Frisk, was published in 2020.
Books for Young Readers
Asim has also written books especially for young people. His first novel for young readers was The Road To Freedom, published in 2000.
Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington came out in 2012. This book won the Carter G. Woodson Book Award in 2013. It was also on several "best books" lists and nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
In 2016, he published Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis. This book was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2016.
