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Barack Obama headshot

Barack Obama Receives 2020 PEN America Voice of Influence Award, Re-Embraces His Identity as a Writer

Press ReleaseDecember 8, 2020

“My politics, my public life, and my more interior writing life have never been that far apart," More

Barack Obama headshot

“James Baldwin Didn’t Have to Go Out and Get Votes.” Obama Reflects on Race, Dialogue, and Disinformation in PEN America Interview

Press ReleaseDecember 5, 2020

In an interview with PEN America, President Obama reflects on race, dialogue, and disinformation as the country confronts a new political future. More

Barack Obama headshot

PEN America to Confer Voice of Influence Award on President Barack Obama

Press ReleaseNovember 25, 2020

“As an organization of writers, we have always seen President Obama not just as a leader, but as one of us: an author.” More

Darnella Frazier headshot

PEN America to Honor Darnella Frazier, Young Woman Who Documented George Floyd’s Murder

Press ReleaseOctober 27, 2020

“With nothing more than a cell phone and sheer guts, Darnella changed the course of history in this country, sparking a bold movement demanding an end to systemic anti-Black… More

Xu Zhiyong

2020 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award: Xu Zhiyong

ProfileJune 4, 2020

PEN America bestows its 2020 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award on detained Chinese essayist and activist Xu Zhiyong. More

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  • What's New
PEN America/PEN International: Chinese Authorities Should Immediately Release Blogger Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison
PEN America, With Other Free Speech Organizations, Sends Letter to Congress Opposing Proposed National TikTok Ban
Letter to Congress Opposing Federal Law to Impose a Ban on TikTok
PEN America and Amani: Africa Creative Defence Network Call on Ugandan President to Veto Anti-LGBTQI Rights Law, Condemning it as a Serious Strike Against Free Expression

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
48m

DYK: In the 2021-22 school year 317 PICTURE BOOKS were banned. Most feature a protagonist of color or characters who reflect the LGBTQ+ experience. Many are nonfiction, including histories of civil rights & gay pride. Many are books about animals or babies https://pen.org/banned-picture-books-2022/

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
57m

Keeping it 💯 at 100. #BannedBooks #FreeTheBooks

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poppymasselos Poppy Masselos @poppymasselos ·
17 Mar

Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Ban Books - PEN America https://pen.org/report/banned-usa-growing-movement-to-censor-books-in-schools/

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