Zora Neale Hurston Richard Wright Foundation

Hurston/Wright writing competitions honor literacy excellency by published and unpublished writers. The Legacy Awards celebrates the best books by Black authors in the United States and around the globe. Panels of award-winning authors serve as judges to select nominees, finalists and winners in each category. The Award for College Writers recognizes excellence by Black College students in fiction and poetry. The Crossover Award, which debuted in 2020, honors original voices in literary nonfiction.

The Hurston/Wright Writer-in-Residence Program provides published Black writers with dedicated space and funding to focus on their writing craft and individual writing projects. In partnership with vetted colleges/universities, the Hurston/Wright WIR program builds a a viable pipeline of Black writers through intentional peer-supported engagement, culturally competent mentorship, and financial support.