The PEN Pod: The Other Black Girl with Zakiya Dalila Harris
“I’d always wanted to be a writer before working in publishing. . . . I was also feeling fatigued as the only Black woman on my floor and in… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Brian Broome
“I’m trying to tell the truth every chance I get. Storytelling in front of an audience has become a big part of that.” More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Hanif Abdurraqib
“I’ve needed stories as a way to keep loved ones alive, as a way to contextualize histories, as a way to push back against things I was told to… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Renée Watson
“Writing from a true place for me is more about creating stories that resonate with my readers so that even if they’ve never been in that particular circumstance, they… More
Celebrating Debuts from Black LGBTQIA+ Authors: A Pride Month Reading List
This reading list, which aims to amplify the voices of recently debuted Black queer writers, establishes a foundation for how we might reimagine the future. More
The PEN Pod: On The Importance of Centering Marginalized Narratives with Jaquira Díaz
“I would hope that they would find in my story that my story was not unique, that so many of us go through this suffering in silence.” More
Black Literature – Past, Present, and Future: A Reading List
This week’s reading list features a mix of classic and contemporary novels, essay collections, and poetry collections from Black authors. More
2019 LitFest Gala: Levar Burton’s Tribute to Toni Morrison
In an intimate tribute to Toni Morrison at the 2019 LitFest Gala in Los Angeles, acclaimed actor and author LeVar Burton honored the late writer's legacy. More
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PEN America On 
Belarus’ authoritarian president said Friday he’s prepared to invite Russian troops into the country if such a move is necessary to ensure the security of both Belarus and Russia. https://bit.ly/3lgIl8z
In our latest episode of #thePENpod, we delve into Mitch McConnell’s comments on the role of misinformation in vaccine hesitancy, the January 6 insurrection public hearings, and continued crackdowns on journalists in Russia: https://bit.ly/3BUEtQt.
In just under six months Myanmar has become one of the worst jailers of journalists in the world, with at least 32 currently detained, a media freedom watchdog said Wednesday. https://bit.ly/3j7nK3Z
