Premieres Tuesday, February 16 at 11 p.m.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Hosts “The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards 2020”—Amplifying Diverse Literary Voices Across Digital Divide and Featuring Works Addressing Racism and Equity

Join host Henry Louis Gates, Jr., popular public television personality, Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards jury chair, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, cultural critic and institution builder, for a one-hour program celebrating the 85th Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards and its 2020 honorees. The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards are the only American book prize focusing on works that address racism and equity. During the current movement for racial equality, the necessity and relevance of these featured writings is as great as ever.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. said, “This year’s honorees remind us of nothing less than our shared humanity — a reminder sorely needed in these challenging times.”

“The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards 2020” features visits to the hometowns of the four 2020 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards honorees — historian Eric Foner, poet Ilya Kaminsky, scholar Charles King and novelist Namwali Serpell. During these visits, the honorees share readings of their award-winning works and their acceptance speeches. In addition, the film covers the inspiring history of the awards along with interviews of Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards jurors, including former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove. The program also serves to amplify diverse voices and foster dialogue about inclusivity that transcends the digital divide.

At a time when hosting an in-person awards ceremony is not possible because of the coronavirus pandemic, ideastream, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards and the Cleveland Foundation are partnering to offer this important film on public television as an impactful, safe alternative. The special offers a unique opportunity to celebrate this year’s honorees and share significant literary works with the country in an accessible way.

"We are grateful that the 85-year-old chain of celebrating Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recipients will remain unbroken," said Karen R. Long, manager of the awards. "Thanks to our longtime partners at ideastream, we are able to showcase the four new honorees for viewers everywhere, alongside the inimitable Henry Louis Gates, Jr. And this television special will sit on the right side of the digital divide — accessible to the greatest number of people."

Mark Rosenberger, chief content officer at ideastream, said, “It's truly an honor to partner with the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards to share this program with an expanded audience. The awards and the conversations around them are more relevant than ever."

About the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

Cleveland poet and philanthropist Edith Anisfield Wolf established the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards in 1935, in honor of her father, John Anisfield, and husband, Eugene Wolf, to reflect her family’s passion for issues of social justice. Today it remains the only American book prize focusing on works that address racism and equity. Past winners have presented the extraordinary art and culture of peoples around the world, explored human-rights violations, exposed the effects of racism on children, reflected on growing up biracial, and illuminated the dignity of people as they search for justice. The Cleveland Foundation has administered the Anisfield-Wolf prize since 1963. Visit www.anisfield-wolf.org for more information.