Borzutzky, Cave Canem Take Home National Book Awards

Breaking news! The 2016 National Book Award in Poetry has gone to Daniel Borzutzky for The Performance of Becoming Human (Brooklyn Arts Press), while the Literarian Award, for “outstanding service to literature,” was awarded to Cave Canem. This year's long and short lists for the award gathered together an impressive array of writers from a particularly strong year in poetry publishing. The New York Times reports on last night's awards ceremony, noting a distinctly somber vibe:

The National Book Awards are normally a jubilant moment for the literary world, as hundreds of writers, editors, agents and publishers gather to celebrate some of the year’s best books.

But the mood this year was more somber than celebratory. Many in the liberal-leaning publishing world were stunned and disheartened by the results of the presidential election, and the ceremony reflected their collective angst, as writers issued calls to political action and reflected on the role of artists and writers in tumultuous times.

“Many of us in this room and in this nation find ourselves disoriented, disconnected and unclear about what’s to come,” said Lisa Lucas, who was named the executive director of the National Book Foundation in February.

[...]

As the night wore on, winners and presenters frequently evoked the power of books to inspire empathy and understanding in a country that the speakers said felt politically and culturally polarized.

Daniel Borzutzky, who won the poetry award for his collection “The Performance of Becoming Human,” spoke about his fears for the future of the country, particularly for undocumented immigrants.

Also honored during last night's awards was Cave Canem. NYT reports:

The Literarian Award, for “outstanding service to literature,” was given to Cave Canem, a writer’s center that has helped spur the careers of celebrated black poets and whose fellows have included Ross Gay, Terrance Hayes, Robin Coste Lewis and Tracy K. Smith.

Mr. Hayes, who presented the award, called on poets to continue their work as advocates of social change at a moment when racial hatred seems to be rising.

“We have seen a black president, and we are seeing what kind of president comes after a black president,” he said. “We have seen and are still seeing black men and women being killed by people sworn to protect them.”

As ye faithful readers of Harriet know, Borzutzky has contributed many pieces to the blog and website over the years, from these posts in December 2014 to these two interviews with Raúl Zurita to a series of essays curator for National Poetry Month this past April.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists!