The 2022
Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke
Distinguished Achievement
Award Winner
The 2020 Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke
Distinguished Achievement Award Winner
Wil Haygood
“The history of America – much of the world even – is marked by a relentless struggle for peace. This is our hard climb. Where it concerns Black Americans and their quest for justice, I’ve been drawn to many stories, often stories missing from the history books. My real-life characters ask a simple question when it comes to peace: Why can’t we all get along? From Jackson, Mississippi, to Chicago; from the Los Angeles that had erupted in rebellion because of police brutality to war-torn Somalia, I’ve heard the same question, from both young and old. So, the harder the peace, the more I want to write.“
— Wil Haygood
Advancing Peace through Literature
2021 Winners
Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award Winner
Margaret Atwood
Fiction Winner
Alexander Starritt
We Germans
Fiction
Runner-up
The
Mountains
Sing
Runner-up
Nguyễn
Phan
Quế Mai
The
Mountains
Sing
Nonfiction
Winner
Ariana
Neumann
When Time
Stopped
Winner
Ariana
Neumann
When Time
Stopped
Nonfiction
Runner-up
Jordan
Ritter Conn
The Road
from Raqqa
Runner-up
Jordan
Ritter Conn
The Road
from Raqqa
2020 Winners
Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award Winner
Margaret Atwood
Fiction Winner
Alice Hoffman
The World That
We Knew
Fiction
Runner-up
Christy Lefteri
The Beekeeper
of Aleppo
Runner-up
Christy Lefteri
The Beekeeper
of Aleppo
Nonfiction
Winner
Chanel Miller
Know My Name
Winner
Chanel Miller
Know My Name
Nonfiction
Runner-up
Jennifer
Eberhardt
Biased
Runner-up
Jennifer
Eberhardt
Biased
Statement of Equal Justice
June 19, 2020
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize is dedicated to advancing peace through the power of the written word. There can never be peace without justice and equity for all people, but particularly for individuals of color and those who have been historically marginalized.
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize stands with all those in the United States and around the world who are lifting up their words and voices to call for justice and an end to oppression and systemic racism. Words educate, inspire, exalt and move us to reflect and change.
The critical movement that’s capturing the minds and hearts of so many can be informed by the written word. We celebrate writers dedicated to peace and justice—their words challenge us to be better. We acknowledge that the light they have shown on racism, violence, prejudice, cruelty, and inequity has gone unheeded too long. We encourage everyone to act on the words of these writers, either by continuing present efforts or by seeking new opportunities to expand and extend actions leading to peace.
Founder and Board of Trustees President
Dayton Literary Peace Prize
Dayton Literary Peace Prize
