DPI Chair, Dr. Willis is a recipient of the 2026 American Book Award!

Wednesday, Jul 29, 2026

The Before Columbus Foundation announces the Winners of the Forty-Seventh Annual AMERICAN BOOK AWARDS. The 2026 American Book Award winners will be formally recognized on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., at the Alumni House on the UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA.

The American Book Awards were created to provide recognition for outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America’s diverse literary community. The purpose of the awards is to recognize literary excellence without limitations or restrictions. There are no categories, no nominees, and therefore no losers. The award winners range from well-known and established writers to under-recognized authors and first works. There are no quotas for diversity; the winners list simply reflects it as a natural process. The Before Columbus Foundation views American culture as inclusive and has always considered the term “multicultural” to be not a description of various categories, groups, or “special interests,” but rather as the definition of all of American literature. The Awards are not bestowed by an industry organization, but rather are a writers’ award given by other writers.

Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers: 1840 to the Present (25th Anniversary Edition) (Liveright)

More Info HERE.