The Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation -
the nation's resource center for writers, readers, and supporters of Black literature. The only organization of its kind that provides culturally sensitive services and guidance for Black writers at every stage of their development.
Founded in 1990 by novelist Marita Golden and bibliophile Clyde McElvene, the Foundation’s mission is to discover, develop, and honor Black writers. The programs of the Foundation preserve the legacy and ensure the future of Black writers and the literature they produce. The Foundation was named for two geniuses of American and world literature, Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright.
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Historically, the African American community has lacked viable institutions dedicated to supporting creative writing either as an artistic expression or a professional endeavor. No educational institution, professional organization, or existing non-profit has responded to this need as comprehensively as the Hurston/Wright Foundation. The Foundation is the only organization in the nation that provides culturally sensitive services and guidance for Black writers at every stage of their development.
Since 1990, the Foundation has created a wide range of new opportunities for Black writers. In the process, the organization has also increased the awareness and appreciation of Black literature, while simultaneously serving underserved areas of the Black community, and increasing the appreciation of literature.
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The Hurston/Wright Foundation is led and supported by a diverse board of directors and an advisory board of notables from the national literary community that includes Toni Morrison, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Terry McMillan, Chinua Achebe, E. Ethelbert Miller, and hundreds of community volunteers.
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Aspiring Writers (Those who often find it difficult to get started, maintain a consistent writing schedule, but are dissatisfied with their progress.)
The Foundation provides workshops and on-line classes that offer:
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Methods for eliminating self-censorship
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Guidance and coaching in a safe, nurturing supportive environment
- Methods for overcoming time restraints
- Exercises that will successfully help deal with mental blocks
- Exercises that will help you find your voice
- Methods for using fears to motivate
Emerging Writers ( Those who are close to completing their manuscript/masterpieces.)
The Foundation provides information/direction for:
- What to do next
- How to find an editor
- How to find an agent
- How to gain access to publishing opportunities
Published Authors (Those who have experienced success and want to give back to their community.)
The Foundation provides:
- Access to hundreds of serious readers and supporters of Black literature
- An opportunity to be awarded by your peers
- An opportunity to provide instruction to aspiring and emerging writers
- Opportunity for employment
Readers (Those who appreciate and enjoy Black literature, and understand its value and want to see it flourish.)
The Foundation provides:
- Timely information about/access to some of your favorite Black authors
- Timely information about, and access to, emerging Black writers
- Culturally sensitive reviews of Black books
- An opportunity to interact with other supporters and readers of Black literature
- Timely information about the latest trends in Black literature
- An opportunity to provide support for Black writers and the literature they produce.
- An opportunity to meet great, celebrated Black authors
Corporate Supporters (Those who understand the value and contribution of Black literature to world literature and culture, and the positive qualities of the Foundation to improve their image with the buying public.)
The Foundation provides corporate supporters:
- Instant credibility.
- Access to regional and or national rollout newsworthy coverage.
- Opportunities to strengthen corporate images as good citizens.
- Access to audiences that corporations might never reach on their own.
- Opportunities to promote sales and or build traffic.
- Access to targeted audiences.
- Positive exposure in the press.
The Foundation's audience and supporters range in age from teens/young adults to the elderly, are 65 percent female, and consist primarily of middle- to upper-income college educated writers and readers of Black literature. Since its inception, the Hurston/Wright Foundation has grown from serving only one segment of the literary community-college writers of African descent-to providing culturally sensitive services and guidance for Black writers at every stage of their development. The Foundation sponsors an annual tuition-free weeklong workshop for high school students ; an annual award for college writers ; an annual writers' week workshop for published and unpublished writers of African descent; and the first national award presented to published writers of African descent by the national community of Black writers.
- The Hurston/Wright Foundation, in partnership with Borders Books & Music, has presented $240,000 in prize money to winners and finalists as part of the annual Hurston/Wright Legacy Award , which recognizes published writers of African descent for the highest quality fiction and nonfiction literature.
- Major publishers including Warner Books, Random House, and Simon & Schuster have published books (fiction and nonfiction) written by eight of the 35 winners of the Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers .
- Eight hundred writers from the USA , Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean have attended our annual weeklong summer workshop, Hurston/Wright Writers' Week , inaugurated in 1996.
All of these programs have been developed to appeal to published and unpublished Black writers as well as individuals and corporations who understand the value of Black literature and are willing and able to support the programs of the Foundation.
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More than 90 percent of the Foundation's income is contributed by corporations, foundations, and individuals with the remainder derived from fees, publications, and special events.
Organization supporters include:
Atria Books, BET Books, Black Classic Press, Black Issues Book Review, BookSpan Borders Books & Music, DC Lottery, Doubleday Books, Essence Communications FannieMae Foundation, HarperCollins, National Endowment for the Arts, Penguin Putnam Prince George's Arts Council, Prudential, Random House, Simon & Schuster, The Alonzo F. and Norris B. Herndon Foundation, The Authors Guild Foundation, The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The McKesson Foundation, The Meyer Foundation, The Philip D. & Tammy Murphy Foundation, The Prince George's Foundation Community Action Fund, The Washington Post, The Zora Neale Hurston Trust, University of the District of Columbia, Verizon Foundation, Warner Books.
The Hurston/Wright Foundation relies on financial contributions and the services of individual volunteers to carry out its work. To make a contribution click here. To volunteer, or find out more about the Foundation, contact us by phone at (301) 459-2108 or by email at info@hurstonwright.org
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Contact the Hurston/Wright Foundation:
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