On the recordJune 19, 2019
The Carnegie Medal, the prestigious award that annually recognizes authors focused on literature for children or young adults, has been widely coveted since its establishment in 1936. Surprisingly, the medal has never been awarded to a woman of color in its 83-year existence--that is, until Dominican-American poet Elizabeth Acevedo's win for ``The Poet X,'' a critically acclaimed piece of literature named after its main character, Xiomara Batista. ``The Poet X'' artfully illustrates the journey of X, a shy Dominican girl of African descent who joins her school's poetry club in Harlem, a place I represent and know well. Elizabeth's brave exploration of societal structures in ``The Poet X'' is remarkable. Her childhood upbringing and tribulations gave Elizabeth unique authority and intimacy of X's journey. The resulting poem will inspire young voices who follow her footsteps. Congratulations to Elizabeth for her monumental accomplishment. ____________________
