Morgan Parker (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morgan Parker
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| Born | December 19, 1987 (age 37) |
| Occupation | Poet, editor, novelist |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Columbia University (BA) New York University (MFA) |
| Notable works | There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé |
Morgan Parker (born December 19, 1987) is an American poet, novelist, and editor. She is known for writing in many different styles, which has led some to call her a "multidisciplinary phenom," meaning she is talented in many creative areas.
Parker has written several award-winning poetry collections. These include There are More Beautiful Things than Beyoncé (2017) and Magical Negro (2019). Her book Magical Negro won the very important National Book Critics Circle Award. She also wrote a novel for young adults called Who Put This Song On (2019).
Contents
Early Life and School
Parker grew up in Southern California. For college, she moved to New York City. She earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University, where she studied anthropology and creative writing.
Later, she attended New York University to get a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in poetry. In 2017, she moved back to Southern California.
Career as a Writer and Editor
Besides writing her own books, Parker has had a busy career. She worked as an editor for Little A, a part of Amazon Publishing. She has also taught creative writing at Columbia University.
Parker is very active in the poetry community. She helps organize a reading series called Poets With Attitude (PWA) with another poet, Tommy Pico. She also created and hosts a live show at the Ace Hotel in New York. Parker is a member of The Other Black Girl Collective, a group she is in with poet Angel Nafis.
Her poems have appeared in many famous magazines and collections, including the Poetry Foundation and Best American Poetry 2016.
Major Books
First Poetry Collection
Parker's first book of poems was called Other People’s Comfort Keeps Me Up At Night. It was first released in 2015 and was published again in 2021.
In this collection, Parker's poems are known for being bold and full of life. She uses humor to explore serious topics. Her work often connects personal feelings with bigger political ideas.
Other Famous Works
Parker's book Magical Negro won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry in 2019. This award is a major honor for a writer.
In 2024, Parker published a collection of essays called You Get What You Pay For. Time Magazine named it one of the best new books of March 2024. Parker said that writing this book was difficult because she had to write about very personal and honest topics.
Awards and Honors
Parker has received many awards for her writing.
- 2012 Cave Canem Fellowship
- 2013 Gatewood Prize
- 2016 Pushcart Prize
- 2017 National Endowment of the Arts Literature Fellowship
- 2019 National Book Critics Circle Award for Magical Negro
See also
In Spanish: Morgan Parker para niños
