Georgia poet Jericho Brown, 48, has been named one of 22 new recipients of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation’s “genius grants.” Each fellow will receive $800,000 over five years, which they can use at their discretion. The grants are awarded without an application process, and recipients are not informed until the announcement. Nominations come from peers and community members through a long-term, open process managed by the foundation.
Brown is based in Atlanta and serves as an English and creative writing professor at Emory University’s Charles Howard Candler School. He has previously worked as an assistant professor of English at the University of San Diego. Brown is also the editor of “How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice and Skill (2023)” and “The Selected Shepherd (2024).”
The MacArthur Foundation describes Brown’s work as candid and vulnerable. He writes about love, identity, and his experiences as a Black gay man. His poetry captures the complexities of relationships, particularly his deep affection for his mother and other Black women. The foundation praises his lyrical beauty and his ability to highlight the experiences of marginalized communities while showcasing innovative poetic forms.
Brown’s poetry has been featured in several prominent publications, including Buzzfeed, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The Atlantic, TIME Magazine, American Poetry Review, and The New Republic.
Marlies Carruth, director of the MacArthur Fellows Program, noted that while each class of fellows is not directly responding to current events, certain themes often emerge. “We see the variety and strength of nominations in the literary arts as a response to the zeitgeist, the desire to tell stories that have not been told,” she said.
The foundation looks for individuals who have demonstrated a history of significant work and the potential for future contributions. They also prioritize supporting those who collaborate and invest in areas beyond their specific fields.
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