Natalie Diaz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Natalie Diaz
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| Born | September 4, 1978 Needles, California, U.S. |
| Language | Mojave; English; Spanish |
| Education | Old Dominion University (BA, MFA) |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Notable awards | Pulitzer Prize for Poetry 2021 |
Natalie Diaz was born on September 4, 1978. She is a talented American poet who belongs to the Mojave tribe. She is also known for being a language activist, which means she works to keep her native language alive. Before becoming a famous writer, she was even a professional basketball player! Today, she teaches at Arizona State University.
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Early Life and Basketball
Natalie Diaz grew up in Needles, California, near the borders of California, Arizona, and Nevada. She was a great basketball player. She went to Old Dominion University and played point guard for their women's basketball team.
Her team did really well! In her first year, they made it to the NCAA Final Four. This is a huge achievement in college basketball. For her other three years, they also made it to the "Sweet Sixteen" round of the tournament.
After college, Natalie played professional basketball in Europe and Asia. Later, she returned to Old Dominion University to study writing. She earned a special degree in poetry and fiction in 2006.
Writing Career
Natalie Diaz's poems have appeared in many well-known magazines. Her first book of poetry was called When My Brother Was an Aztec. This book shared stories about Native American life with strong feelings and powerful myths. It won the American Book Award in 2013.
In 2012, she talked about her poetry and her work to save the Mojave language on the PBS NewsHour. This showed how important her efforts were.
Natalie became a special professor of modern poetry at Arizona State University in 2018.
Pulitzer Prize Winner
In 2021, Natalie Diaz won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her book Postcolonial Love Poem. The Pulitzer Prize is one of the most important awards a writer can receive.
Her book was described as a collection of "tender, heart-wrenching and defiant poems." These poems explore what it means to love and be loved in a country that faces many challenges. The book was also a finalist for several other major awards.
Personal Life and Language Work
Natalie Diaz lives in Mohave Valley, Arizona. She has done very important work to help save the Mojave language. She worked with the last few older people who spoke Mojave fluently. This effort helps keep her culture and language alive for future generations. She is a member of the Gila River Indian Community.
Poetry in Books
- Kurt Schweigman and Lucille Lang Day, eds. (2016). Red Indian Road West: Native American Poetry from California.
Awards and Honors
Natalie Diaz has received many awards for her writing and her contributions to literature.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
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| 2007 | No More Cake Here | Pablo Neruda Prize in Poetry | Won |
| 2007 | The Hooferman | Tobias Wolff Fiction Prize | Won |
| 2012 | Poetry Fellow | Lannan Literary Fellowship | Won |
| 2012 | Downhill Triolets | Narrative Prize | Won |
| 2012 | Poetry Scholar | Louis Untermeyer Scholarship in Poetry | Won |
| 2015 | Writing Fellow | PEN/Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship | Won |
| 2018 | Poetry Fellow | MacArthur Fellowship | Won |
| 2021 | Postcolonial Love Poem | Pulitzer Prize for Poetry | Won |
See also
In Spanish: Natalie Diaz para niños
