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Jericho Brown, a poet and writer, has been named one of the 2024 MacArthur Fellows. This recognition by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation honors Brown’s contributions to contemporary poetry and his ability to address complex societal issues through his work.
“I was actually leaving the doctor's office, and I wasn't feeling well. And after they told me [about the award], I sort of forgot that I wasn't feeling well and I felt a lot better,” Brown said about his reaction to learning of the award. “I’m happy that my poems reach people.”
The MacArthur Fellowship, also known as a “Genius Grant,” is awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional creativity, promise for important future advances, and potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work.
Brown earned his Ph.D. in creative writing and literature from UH in 2007. His writings often explore themes of family, identity, and the intersection of race and sexuality. His poems have been published in outlets such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Best American Poetry.
“It’s a writer’s dream,” Brown said in 2020 when he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his book “The Tradition.” He recalled how reading and writing kept him safe during his childhood.
According to the MacArthur Foundation, Brown writes with frankness and vulnerability about love, both filial and erotic. He explores his identity as a Black gay man while expressing tenderness toward his mother and other Black women. His poems highlight the experiences of marginalized people through formal experimentation.
“Jericho Brown’s powerful engagement with the intricacies of identity and society inspires both current students and emerging writers to push boundaries,” said Diane Z. Chase, senior vice president for academic affairs at UH.
Brown is currently a faculty member at Emory University where he serves as Winship Distinguished Research Professor and director of the Creative Writing Program. He encourages students to be bold and take risks in their lives.
Brown is also writing about gun violence, addressing how society has normalized mass shootings. He notes that technology has connected people yet left many feeling isolated.
"The more we lessen the amount of contact that we have, the less we have opportunities for compassion toward other human beings," Brown said.
The MacArthur Fellowship includes an award of $800,000 distributed over five years without specific project requirements. It aims to foster innovative ideas that address societal problems.
Brown is only the third UH alumnus to win a MacArthur Fellowship. Previous recipients include Frederick C. Cuny (B.S. ’67) in 1995 for disaster relief efforts and Cristina Rivera Garza (Ph.D. ’95) in 2020 for her work in bilingual cross-genre creative writing.
Rick Lowe, another UH faculty member who won a MacArthur Fellowship in 2014, is known for developing community-based art projects like Project Row Houses.
Learn more at the MacArthur Fellows Program website.
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