August 6th 2024.
The very first U.S. book prize to be awarded by incarcerated judges has recently announced its inaugural recipient: Imani Perry, for her powerful novel "South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation." This prestigious literary award, known as the Inside Literary Prize, was launched in December of 2023 and involved the participation of over 200 individuals who are currently incarcerated. The prize was created as a collaboration between Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, the Center for Justice Innovation, and local Dallas bookstore owner Lori Feathers.
Founder and CEO of Freedom Reads, Reginald Dwayne Betts, expressed his excitement for the launch of the Inside Literary Prize in a press release, stating, "Reading literature and poetry during my nine years in prison played a crucial role in shaping the person I am today." He went on to explain that this competition would provide a national platform for incarcerated individuals to actively engage in our shared cultural conversation through the reading and judging of leading American literary works. Betts and his team are proud to work with their partners to make this vision a reality on an annual basis, as they firmly believe that freedom truly begins with a book.
The announcement of the inaugural winner took place on August 1st during a ceremony in New York City, which was also hosted by Betts. Although the judges were unable to attend in person, they participated via video streaming and spoke about the significance of their role in determining the winner. One judge, named Chelsea from the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Shakopee, expressed her gratitude for being able to participate in the judging process, stating, "Being a judge meant a lot to me because it meant that my voice mattered. For the last four and a half years, my voice hasn't mattered, but through this experience, I got to be Chelsea. I wasn't just a number."
The panel of judges was made up of individuals from 12 different prisons across the country. Representatives from the sponsoring organizations visited each prison to lead discussions about the nominated works, and the readers were then able to cast their votes for the winner. The shortlist included Tess Gunty's novel "The Rabbit Hutch," Jamil Jan Kochai's short story collection "The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories," and Roger Reeves' poetry book "Best Barbarian."
In her acceptance speech, Perry, who published her book in 2022, spoke about the unique format of her novel, which combines elements of a memoir and a travelogue. She shared how her personal journey and history throughout the American South inspired her writing. Perry also acknowledged the significance of her $4,860 prize, as it represents five years of work at the average prison wage of 54 cents per hour, which is the same wage that Betts earned while working at his prison's library.
As she accepted her award, Perry expressed her sense of responsibility to the millions of people who are currently incarcerated or under state supervision. She stated, "I am deeply honored by this recognition, and it reminds me of the importance of seeing society from the corners that it often keeps hidden, and listening to the wisdom of those who are often kept out of view. Most importantly, it is a reminder to care for those who are still in the grasp of confinement." She also thanked the organizers for their belief in freedom and extended her gratitude to the incarcerated individuals, reminding them that when she refers to "we" or "my people," she includes them in that group.
The Inside Literary Prize is not only a recognition of the incredible talent and intellect of individuals behind bars, but also a reminder to extend that recognition further and continue to support and uplift those who are currently incarcerated. As Perry eloquently stated, "May this recognition of the intellectual life that exists behind bars extend much further."
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