Amid Tumultuous Year, PEN America Virtual Gala Celebrates Acts of Courage and Bravery by Those Who Stand Up to Oppression
"I’m heartened to think that this assembly of not always like-minded but always like-hearted writers and thinkers and advocates—that our assembly tonight points to our power.” More
Barack Obama Receives 2020 PEN America Voice of Influence Award, Re-Embraces His Identity as a Writer
“My politics, my public life, and my more interior writing life have never been that far apart," More
“James Baldwin Didn’t Have to Go Out and Get Votes.” Obama Reflects on Race, Dialogue, and Disinformation in PEN America Interview
In an interview with PEN America, President Obama reflects on race, dialogue, and disinformation as the country confronts a new political future. More
Police Threaten Chinese Women’s Rights Activist
“Threatening someone for speaking out about the people they love is a tactic for extortionists, not for governments that claim to respect the rule of law." More
2020 PEN America Virtual Gala
The PEN America Gala reimagined our annual New York Literary Gala as a national and international virtual celebration. More
PEN America to Confer Voice of Influence Award on President Barack Obama
“As an organization of writers, we have always seen President Obama not just as a leader, but as one of us: an author.” More
PEN America to Honor Darnella Frazier, Young Woman Who Documented George Floyd’s Murder
“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
PEN America to Award 2020 PEN/Benenson Courage Award to Marie Yovanovitch
“At a time when, for government officials, standing on principle can spell an end to a professional career, Ambassador Yovanovitch did not flinch or falter." More
2020 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award: Xu Zhiyong
PEN America bestows its 2020 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award on detained Chinese essayist and activist Xu Zhiyong. More
Audible to Support PEN America’s Annual Literary Service Prize
(New York, NY) — PEN America today announced that Audible, the world’s largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, will support the organization’s annual Literary Service Award, which this year will go to renowned… More