The 2024 Pulitzer Prizes, considered the pinnacle of achievement in American journalism and the arts, were announced Monday in a remote video ceremony led by administrator Marjorie Miller, per lithub.com. Winners across 14 categories were revealed, each receiving a $15,000 cash prize and a place among the most esteemed creators in their fields.
Fiction honours went to Jayne Anne Phillips for Night Watch, a poignant novel set in a post-Civil War asylum. In Drama, Eboni Booth’s Primary Trust won for its depiction of a man’s personal transformation through community. Jacqueline Jones’s No Right to an Honest Living triumphed in History, offering a groundbreaking take on Black experiences in Civil War-era Boston.
Biography saw a double win, with Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life providing a fresh perspective on Martin Luther King Jr., while Ilyon Woo’s Master Slave Husband Wife detailed the daring escape of an enslaved couple. Cristina Rivera Garza’s Liliana’s Invincible Summer emerged victorious in Memoir, a powerful blend of genres exploring a sister’s quest for justice.
The poetry world celebrated Brandon Som’s Tripas, a collection that explores the complexities of heritage and family. General Nonfiction was awarded to Nathan Thrall’s A Day in the Life of Abed Salama, a meticulously reported story of life under Israeli occupation.
The music category saw Tyshawn Sorey’s introspective saxophone concerto Adagio (for Wadada Leo Smith) take home the prize.
Special citations were presented to the late critic Greg Tate for his lasting influence on hip-hop criticism and to journalists covering the war in Gaza, recognising their bravery in the face of immense danger.
The full list of winners and finalists paints a vibrant picture of American creativity, resilience, and the pursuit of truth.
