American Book Award Winners

First presented in 1980, by the Before Columbus Foundation, “the American Book Awards Program respects and honors excellence in American literature without restriction or bias with regard to race, sex, creed, cultural origin, size of press or ad budget, or even genre. There would be no requirements, restrictions, limitations, or second places. There would be no categories. The winners would not selected by any set quota for diversity, because diversity happens naturally. Finally, there would be no losers, only winners. The only criteria would be outstanding contribution to American literature in the opinion of the judges.”

Here we present the American Book Award recipients of African descent.

Select Year202320222019201820172016201520142012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220011999199819971995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980

3 Books Honored in 1987

Fiction

Book Description: 
The explosive novel that introduced #1 New York Times bestselling author Terry McMillan-now in a new trade edition.

Poetry

Book Description: 
Book annotation not available for this title.
Title: The Essential Etheridge Knight
Author: Knight, Etheridge
Univ of Pittsburgh Pr
1986/12/05
Number of
Binding Type: PAPERBACK
Library of Congress: 86006989

Fiction

Book Description: 
The small town of Refuge is the perfect hideaway for Patrick Lahm and the Freys. Nestled in the heart of Maine and miles away from the Kurtain Motel, Refuge promises both tranquility and ease of mind. The mundane routine of working in the local post office and buying groceries is all Patrick could hope for. For the first time in his life, things are finally looking up. But one can only escape from his sins for so long. Occasional nightmares, visions of the dead and a priest hell-bound on confessions leave the survivors feeling that it is only a matter of time before the darkness catches up. With Jimmy by his side, Patrick watches as the walls of reality crumble around him, and he quickly realizes that there can be no rest for the sinful. No matter how far they run.