Edwidge Danticat was nominated for an NCAAP Award for Best Book for Untwine in the Outstanding Literary Work-Youth/Teens category, her Young Adult novel earlier this year. And now, she’s been named a National Writer’s Conference honoree. She’s receiving her award at the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York. Her book Brother, I am Dying was part of the prestigious The Big Read Miami program.

This is her reaction to both honors, in an exclusive statement she gave to moi:

“I am extremely honored of to have my memoir in The Big Read Miami program. One does not do this kind of work for accolades, but it is always very heartwarming to know that my work has touched people and that they have reacted to it so kindly.

Given the climate we are in now, with all the electoral rhetoric and anti immigration talk, I am very happy that people will be reading and discussing Brother, I’m Dying at this particular time. I hope the book will shed some light on the lives of people who have gone through and continue to go through similar experiences and I hope it leads to more productive and humane conversations both in private and public places.”

Congratulations Edwidge Danticat. And call the carpenter and have him build another shelf for more awards. Good for you, girl.

CLICK HERE to read other articles (including interviews) about and with Edwidge Danticat.

Haiti-born filmmaker Raoul Peck has had a fantastic year in the world of cinema with his documentary I Am Not Your Negro. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association have just chosen the James Baldwin doc he wrote and directed as Best Documentary!

Photo Credit: Magnolia Pictures

The judges/award panel for the Los Angeles Critics Association are picked from among the world’s best cinema critics. Some pundits have pointed to the Los Angeles Film Critics Association’s picks as an indicator of Oscar winners! Will Mr. Peck win an Oscar as well? So, we’ll just have to see. Congratulations to Mr. Peck.

While we’re on the subject of this documentary, it must be mentioned that the documentary’s UK and North American rights were sold while it was still on the film festival circuit. Oh, and also, Mr. Peck’s last documentary was Fatal Assistance, his take on international aid during the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Recently, he directed a biopic of Karl Marx, and prior to that he had directed Murder in Pacot, a murder-mystery set in Haiti.

I Am Not Your Negro will be released to the public in February, so be sure to watch for it at your local theater from Magnolia Pictures!

Meanwhile…You can check out a trailer of the documentary below!

The Hollywood Reporter conducted an interview with Mr. Raoul Peck, and a panel of big screen pundits and analysts. Peck spoke about the importance on relying on James Baldwin’s words to create the documentary film. He also talks about how he was on the road to becoming an engineer, only to turn to film later on in his career. His passion for the work of James Baldwin and his determination to represent him well is so apparent. Check it out the video below!

CLICK HERE to read more about this documentary and filmmaker Raoul Peck.