kwame news

Kwame Alexander & Damani Johnson Receive 2023 Humanitas Nomination!
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Honored and thrilled to share that Kwame Alexander and Damani Johnson received a 2023 Humanitas award nomination for The Crossover ("X's & O's" episode), in the category of Children's teleplay (live-action or animation)! Since 1974, The Humanitas Prizes have been awarded to honor professional film and television writers whose work exemplifies the art of screenwriting while exploring the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way. Congratulations to the entire production team, cast, and crew of [...] read more

Upcoming Summer Events in Atlanta, Chautauqua, & Martha's Vineyard!
Friday, July 28, 2023
Heading back out on the road for a series of upcoming events. If you're planning to be in Atlanta, Chatauqua, or Martha's Vineyard, we'd love to see you! Saturday, July 29 National Book Club Conference 11:00am ET Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel & Conference Center Atlanta, GA Wednesday, August 2 Chautauqua Institution Lecture Series 10:45am ET Chautauqua Amphitheatre Chautauqua, NY Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6 [...] read more

WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT: Book Release, Tour & Podcast!
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
I’m going on a world tour…AGAIN! And, I’ll be talking about the thing my dad says I love to talk about the most. Me. Oh my. Seriously though, this book is different from anything I’ve ever written. It’s my memoir, Why Fathers Cry at Night . I’ll be sharing stories on tour about longing, love, and loss, discussing the lessons we’ve learned - and unlearned - and the ones we are still learning, with some special friends along the way. Come meet me [...] read more

"The Crossover" Streaming on Disney+
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Based on the critically-acclaimed best-selling novel in-verse by Kwame Alexander, “The Crossover” introduces teen brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, widely considered basketball phenoms. Through his lyrical poetry, an adult version of Josh, aka Filthy McNasty, narrates the story of he and his brother’s coming of age, on and off the court, as their former professional basketball player father adjusts to life after basketball, and their mother finally pursues lifelong dreams of her own. Streaming April 5 on Disney+ Check out the trailer below or watch [...] read more

An American Story
Sunday, February 19, 2023
"A story not of Black America but of America, a history we all must own." Nikole Hannah-Jones, award-winning journalist and creator of “The 1619 Project,” reviews An American Story for the New York Times . Read the full review here (note, subscription may be required to access). "They see books as mirrors." Kwame Alexander recently spoke with ABC News' Linsey Davis about [...] read more

Kwame's Upcoming Book Tour
Monday, October 3, 2022
January 3 at 12 Noon EST Key West, FL Kwame will do a live reading from Books & Books Streaming live at Facebook.com/KwameAlexanderBooks January 5 at 6:30 pm EST Raleigh, NC Kwame Alexander and illustrator Dare Coulter in Conversation Quail Ridge Books January 10 at 7:00 pm EST Jacksonville, FL With Kwame Alexander and illustrator Dare Coulter [...] read more
Light for the World to See
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
A powerful and provocative collection of poems that cut to the heart of the entrenched racism and oppression in America and eloquently explores ongoing events. A book in the tradition of James Baldwin’s “A Report from Occupied Territory,” Light for the World to See is a rap session on race. A lyrical response to the struggles of Black lives in our world . . . to America’s crisis of conscience . . . to the centuries of loss, endless resilience, and unstoppable hope. Support your local bookstore by ordering HERE [...] read more

Changing the world, one word at a time.
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Versify, the publishing imprint founded by Kwame Alexander is proud to celebrate our 2020 Award Winners. Vamos : Let's Go to the Market by Raul the III (Pura Belpre Illustrator Award and Massachusetts and Massachusetts Book Award) Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternak (Sidney Taylor Jewish Book Award Honor) White Rose by Kip Wilson (Massachusetts Book Award Honor) Emmy in the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido (ILA Children’s and Young Adult book award for Intermediate Fiction) The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson [...] read more
Becoming Muhammad Ali
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Co-authored with the world's best-selling novelist, James Patterson, Becoming Muhammad Ali is about the childhood of Cassius Clay, and it's a knockout. In bookstores and libraries everywhere. Support your local bookstore by ordering HERE Click HERE for Barnes & Noble or HERE for Books-a-Million. Watch Kwame and James on The Today Show [...] read more

Check out Kwame and Randy's new Mixtapes
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
media coverage
Fresh Air with Terry Gross
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Poet Kwame Alexander reflects on 'Why Fathers Cry at Night' | "I'm not a grown man — I'm a growing man," Alexander says. His new memoir started as a book of love poems, but ended up being a collection of essays and poems about love, divorce and raising children. [...] read more
WASHINGTON POST REVIEW: WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT
Friday, May 26, 2023
“Offers a refreshing masculine vulnerability that is rarely seen.” The Washington Post reviews Why Fathers Cry at Night . [...] read more
Barnes & Noble BN READS: Why Fathers Cry at Night
Friday, May 26, 2023
"Kwame Alexander delivers us a powerful and intimate memoir-in-verse. Emily Dickenson once said, “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant.” Alexander works his life into his poetry to help us reflect on our own lives. A memoir in a book of poetry — a most sublime gift. Keep reading for a BN Reads guest post from Kwame Alexander about the things he’s learned as a father and what inspired him to write Why Fathers Cry at Night , plus a reading of the poem that inspired the title." [...] read more
SHONDALAND INTERVIEW: WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT
Friday, May 26, 2023
“The memoir is at once tender and honest, and Alexander doesn’t pretend to have all the answers.” Shondaland speaks with Kwame about finding grace, falling deep in love, his relationship with Nikki Giovanni, and how grief and loss can push you further into community. [...] read more
THE NEW YORK TIMES, NEW BOOKS THIS WEEK: WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
“We sometimes find poems in the strangest and most uncomfortable places,” Alexander writes in this tender memoir, employing poetry, prose, letters and recipes to tell stories of love and grief . The New York Times Book Review features Why Fathers Cry at Night in New Books This Week. [...] read more
BOOK RIOT: Best Books Out This Week
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
"Alexander paints a vulnerable and honest look at the myriad kinds of love." BookRiot features Why Fathers Cry at Night in Best Books Out This Week. [...] read more
LITERARY HUB: Guest Blog Post by Kwame Alexander
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
"From the second we are born, the experience with food is connected to being held, the warmth of our mother’s skin, her soothing voice. Scientists say that all these experiences are encoded in our infant nervous system as a single event of idyllic tenderness. Later, as adults, the ritual of breaking bread around a table is how we share the things that matter most with the people who matter most to us. I fell hard in love with both of your mothers over a homemade meal. Since I was a child, I’ve [...] read more
POETS & WRITERS: 10 QUESTIONS FOR KWAME ALEXANDER
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Poets & Writers weekly installment of Ten Questions features Kwame Alexander , whose new book, Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Recipes, Letters, and Remembrances , is out now from Little, Brown and Company. [...] read more
WNYC'S ALL OF IT WITH ALISON STEWART: WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Kwame joins WNYC's All of It host Alison Stewart to discuss his new memoir, Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Letters, Recipes, and Remembrances , which tells the story of his parents, and his own journey as a father. [...] read more
PATERNAL PODCAST: INTERVIEW WITH KWAME ALEXANDER
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Kwame Alexander: What My Father Taught Me About Love | Kwame speaks with Paternal podcast host Nicholas Firchau about Why Fathers Cry at Night and reconsidering relationships from his past, including what exactly he knows - and doesn’t know - about love. [...] read more
NPR's Morning Edition: Why Fathers Cry at Night
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
"Kwame Alexander's memoir began as a book of love poem but morphed into so much more" NPR's Michel Martin speaks with author Kwame Alexander about his new book: Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Recipes, Letters, and Remembrances . [...] read more
Everything Happens with Kate Bowler: Interview with Kwame Alexander
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
"To Be Loved Like That" with Kwame Alexander | Our most precious relationships are often our most complicated, aren’t they? Poet and bestselling author Kwame Alexander wrote an honest book of poems and essays that name the difficult and beautiful and heart-wrenching conversations we have (or should be having) with the people we love and with the ones who love us. [...] read more