Morgan Jerkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morgan Jerkins
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| Born | 1992 (age 32–33) United States |
| Occupation | Writer, editor |
| Language | English |
| Education | Princeton University (BA), Bennington College (MFA) |
| Subject | Race, society, African American history, culture |
| Notable works | This Will Be My Undoing (2018) |
| Relatives | Fred Jerkins III (uncle), Rodney Jerkins (uncle) |
Morgan Jerkins (born 1992) is an American writer and editor. Her first book, This Will Be My Undoing (2018), is a collection of true stories. It became a bestseller on The New York Times list. Her second book, Wandering in Strange Lands, is about her own life story. It was released in August 2020. She also teaches at Columbia University.
Contents
Growing Up and School
Morgan Jerkins grew up in New Jersey with her mother and older sister. Their neighborhood was mostly white. Her uncles are famous music producers Fred Jerkins III and Rodney Jerkins. Her family also has Creole roots.
She started writing when she was 14 years old. Writing helped her deal with bullying she faced at school.
Jerkins went to Princeton University for her bachelor's degree. After graduating, she wanted to work in publishing in New York. Even though she studied comparative literature and learned five languages, finding a job was hard. Later, she earned her MFA from the Bennington College Writing Seminars.
Her Books
This Will Be My Undoing
Morgan Jerkins' first book is called This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America. It was published on January 30, 2018. This book is a collection of true stories. It covers topics like her experiences with bullying as a child. It also talks about feminism, dating, and being a Black student at Princeton.
Many people liked the book. A writer for the Los Angeles Times said that Jerkins is very honest about the experiences of Black girls and women. This honesty is important for understanding how to make things fair for everyone. The book became a New York Times bestseller.
Wandering in Strange Lands
Her second book, Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots, came out in August 2020. This book is a memoir, which means it's a true story about her own life. In it, Jerkins travels through several Southern states. She goes on this journey to find answers about her family's history. A review from Kirkus Reviews called it an "eye-opening look at what it means to be Black."
Other Work
Morgan Jerkins writes many true stories and works as an editor. She used to be a senior editor for Zora. This was a website for women of color published by Medium. In 2020, she helped create The Zora Canon. This is a list of 100 important books by Black women writers. The list includes books from 1859 up to 2019.
She left Zora in 2021. After that, she became a senior culture editor for The Undefeated in March 2021. In 2021, Morgan Jerkins also appeared on a show called Storybound.
Personal Life
Morgan Jerkins is a Christian. She lives in Harlem, New York.
Published Works
