Fatou Jaw Manneh: Dame of the Flaming Pen
Q: What motivated or inspired you to write?A: Political stagnation at that time, corruption and nepotism mainly motivated me. I also believe that no human being should sit on… More
Join PEN America Today
Defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture.
Subscribe
Get updates on events, literary awards, free expression issues, and global news.
Alert Us
PEN America On 
This is a must-watch. I love these kids. I was nowhere near as smart or cool or funny in 4th grade. https://twitter.com/penamerica/status/1639272069111115780
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 and gay pride. Many are books about animals or babies. https://pen.org/banned-picture-books-2022/
Watch this. She knows what’s at stake. https://twitter.com/penamerica/status/1638729237027864579