American Book Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 43 (2022) Winner
Zakiya Dalila Harris
ザキヤ・ダリラ・ハリス
Zakiya Dalila Harris
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1992-10-20 （Hamden, Connecticut, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Hamden, Connecticut → Brooklyn, New York
Career
- Occupations
- Author, Editor
- Active Years
- 2016-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | — | — | Bachelor's | 2010-2014 | United States |
| The New School | — | — | MFA (Nonfiction Creative Writing) | — | United States |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Degree:
Bachelor's
Period:
2010-2014
Year of Graduation:
2014
Country:
United States
The New School
Degree:
MFA (Nonfiction Creative Writing)
Country:
United States
Received an MFA in nonfiction creative writing
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Other Black Girl
2021 Novel (psychological thriller / social satire) 336 pagesFollows a Black woman working in publishing who befriends another Black colleague; as their relationship develops, unsettling events and the company's racial and power dynamics surface. Blends dark humor and social critique to explore identity, isolation, and workplace microaggressions in a suspenseful narrative.
RaceWorkplace cultureIdentityIsolationSocial satire
Adaptations
- [Television series] The Other Black Girl (Hulu) (2023)
Bibliography
- The Other Black Girl (2021)
Adaptations
- Television series adaptation for Hulu (premiered 2023)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Satirical, contemporary voice with dark humorRealistic depiction of workplace details and interpersonal dynamics
- Recurring Motifs
- Workplace dynamicsSense of isolationMicroaggressionsSelf-preservation and the search for truth
Legacy
Her debut novel The Other Black Girl achieved critical and commercial success, drawing attention as a contemporary novel addressing the publishing industry's inner workings and racial issues in the workplace. Its television adaptation broadened recognition, making it a notable work in contemporary workplace literature.
Quotes
-
Publishing is such a spoofable world
Source: The Guardian (interview headline) (2021)
Trivia
- Her debut novel's rights were reportedly won by Atria (Simon & Schuster) after a 14-publisher bidding war in a deal reported to exceed $1 million.
- The debut novel was adapted into a Hulu television series that premiered in 2023.
- Her father is a university professor and former journalist; her sister is NPR podcaster Aisha Harris.