American Book Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 30 (2009) Winner
Jericho Brown
ジェリコ・ブラウン
Jericho Brown
Aliases:
Nelson Demery III
Pen Names:
Nelson Demery III（birth name）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1976-04-14 （Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Shreveport, Louisiana (birth) → New Orleans, Louisiana (lived) → Houston, Texas (study/work) → Atlanta, Georgia (Emory University)
Career
- Occupations
- poet, professor, writer
- Active Years
- 2000-2025
- Affiliations
- Emory University (associate professor; director, Creative Writing Program), University of Houston (English department, teaching fellow), University of San Diego (former assistant/visiting professor)
- Memberships
- Alpha Phi Alpha (fraternity)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillard University | — | English/Literature | BA | — | United States |
| University of New Orleans | — | Creative Writing (MFA) | MFA | — | United States |
| University of Houston | — | English (Ph.D.) | Ph.D. | — | United States |
Dillard University
English/Literature
Degree:
BA
Country:
United States
Undergraduate degree. Initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha (Beta Phi chapter) in 1995.
University of New Orleans
Creative Writing (MFA)
Degree:
MFA
Country:
United States
Completed MFA in poetry/creative writing.
University of Houston
English (Ph.D.)
Degree:
Ph.D.
Country:
United States
Earned a Ph.D. (related to poetry/English literature).
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MacArthur Fellowship | — | — | MacArthur Foundation | Winner |
| 2020 | Pulitzer Prize for Poetry | The Tradition | — | The Pulitzer Prizes | Winner |
| 2019 | National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry - Finalist | The Tradition | — | National Book Critics Circle | Finalist |
| 2019 | National Book Award for Poetry - Finalist | The Tradition | — | National Book Foundation | Finalist |
| 2016 | Guggenheim Fellowship | — | — | John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation | Fellowship |
| 2015 | Anisfield-Wolf Book Award | The New Testament | — | Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards | Winner |
| 2011 | National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for Poetry | — | — | National Endowment for the Arts | Fellowship |
| 2009 | American Book Award | Please | — | Before Columbus Foundation | Winner |
| 2009 | Whiting Award | — | — | The Whiting Foundation | Winner |
| 2009 | Radcliffe Institute Fellowship (Harvard University) | — | — | Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University | Fellowship (2009–2010) |
MacArthur Fellowship
2024
Organization:
MacArthur Foundation
Result:
Winner
Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
2020
Work:
The Tradition
Organization:
The Pulitzer Prizes
Result:
Winner
National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry - Finalist
2019
Work:
The Tradition
Organization:
National Book Critics Circle
Result:
Finalist
National Book Award for Poetry - Finalist
2019
Work:
The Tradition
Organization:
National Book Foundation
Result:
Finalist
Guggenheim Fellowship
2016
Organization:
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
Result:
Fellowship
Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
2015
Work:
The New Testament
Organization:
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
Result:
Winner
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for Poetry
2011
Organization:
National Endowment for the Arts
Result:
Fellowship
American Book Award
2009
Work:
Please
Organization:
Before Columbus Foundation
Result:
Winner
Whiting Award
2009
Organization:
The Whiting Foundation
Result:
Winner
Radcliffe Institute Fellowship (Harvard University)
2009
Organization:
Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University
Result:
Fellowship (2009–2010)
Awards & Nominations
Whiting Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 25 (2009) Winner
Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 80 (2015) Winner
PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 30 (2020) Winner
Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
1 appearances
-
Edition 102 (2020) Winner
Works
Major Works
Please
2008 poetry collection / prose poetryFirst book blending personal memory, identity, violence, and healing in lyric poems.
selfmemoryviolencehealing
The New Testament
2014 poetry collectionExplores religious imagery, desire, and corporeality to examine the self and community.
religiondesirethe bodycommunity
The Tradition
2019 poetry collectionA collection linking body, violence, and race through personal experience; notable for formal innovation and strong musicality.
racethe bodyviolencefamilymemory
How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice and Skill
2023 essays / anthologyAn anthology of essays and interviews by Black writers on craft, practice, and skill.
writing craftpracticecommunity
Bibliography
- Please (2008)
- The New Testament (2014)
- The Tradition (2019)
- How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice and Skill (2023)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- lyrical and rhythmic musicalityformal experimentation (including the author's duplex form)direct, affective voice
- Recurring Motifs
- the bodyrace and racismviolencefamily and memoryqueerness/sexuality
Legacy
Jericho Brown is regarded as a leading contemporary American poet, celebrated for formal innovation, musicality, and frank treatment of the body and race. Major awards such as the Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Fellowship have secured his broad recognition and influence.
Academic Societies
- Academy of American Poets
In Popular Culture
- Readings and appearances at high-profile events such as the National Book Festival
Quotes
-
Poetry is a veil in front of a heart beating at a fast pace.
Source: The Guardian (interview) (2018)
Trivia
- Born Nelson Demery III; later adopted the name Jericho Brown professionally.
- Known for using and developing the ‘duplex’ poetic form.
- Previously worked as a speechwriter for the mayor of New Orleans.
- Official website: jerichobrown.com