Atwood and Ten Authors Honored with PEN America’s Eleanor Roosevelt Awards

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U.S. Schools face Unprecedented Wave of Book Bans,PEN America and Eleanor Roosevelt Center Raise Alarm

New York,NY – A significant surge in book bans within U.S.public schools has prompted a united outcry from literary and human rights advocates. PEN America’s Freedom to Read Program has meticulously documented nearly 16,000 instances of book removals as 2021. This widespread censorship campaign,reaching across almost every state,is being driven by conservative groups and predominantly targets works addressing race,racism,and LGBTQ+ themes,as well as books containing sexual references or depicting sexual violence,including those for adult readers.

The scale of this censorship effort is being compared to the McCarthy era’s Red Scare of the 1950s, highlighting the profound impact on intellectual freedom in educational settings. PEN America, an institution established in 1922 and dedicated to protecting free expression both domestically and globally, is at the forefront of raising national awareness about this trend. Their comprehensive “Index of School Book Bans” serves as a crucial resource for tracking these removals.

In response to this challenge, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center, a 501c3 non-profit, is lending its voice and legacy to the cause. The Center, which honors Eleanor Roosevelt’s enduring values, is committed to revitalizing her precedents and legacies. Their mission is to embody her spirit in addressing contemporary issues, striving for a world defined by acceptance, chance, dignity, and respect for all.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s own profound commitment to civil and human rights, and her unwavering belief in intellectual freedom, resonate deeply with the current situation. She famously stated that a society cannot truly uphold its educational commitments without prioritizing the right to seek, receive, and impart details. The Center emphasizes that the free exchange of ideas among diverse voices is the bedrock of a healthy democracy.

PEN America, standing at the nexus of literature and human rights, champions the freedom to write, recognizing its transformative power. Their mission brings together writers and their supporters to celebrate creative expression and safeguard the liberties that enable it.

This collaborative effort to highlight and combat book bans is further bolstered by the support of organizations such as the Freedom to Read Foundation and Oblong Books.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Eleanor Roosevelt Center: Samantha Shapley, managing director, [email protected] | 845.797-0957
PEN America: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected] | 201-247-5057

You can connect with the Eleanor Roosevelt Center on Facebook at facebook.com/theeleanorrooseveltcenter and on Instagram at instagram.com/eleanorrooseveltcenter/, or visit their website at www.ervk.org. Learn more about PEN America at pen.org.

What specific contributions to free expression and human rights have earned Margaret Atwood the Eleanor Roosevelt Award?

Recognizing Champions of Free Expression

PEN America’s prestigious Eleanor Roosevelt Award,celebrating those who champion free expression and human rights,has been bestowed upon Margaret Atwood and ten other distinguished authors in 2025. This year’s honorees represent a diverse range of voices and literary contributions, all united by their unwavering commitment to defending the freedom to write. The awards, announced on July 17, 2025, highlight the critical role literature plays in fostering dialog and challenging injustice.

The 2025 Eleanor Roosevelt Award Recipients

The full list of 2025 recipients showcases a breadth of talent and dedication to literary activism. Here’s a closer look at each honoree:

Margaret Atwood: Renowned Canadian author of The Handmaid’s Tale and numerous other acclaimed novels, essays, and poetry collections. Her work frequently explores themes of power, gender, and environmentalism.

Ta-Nehisi Coates: Award-winning author and journalist known for his insightful essays on race and American society, including Between the World and Me.

Louise Glück: (Posthumously honored) Pulitzer Prize-winning poet celebrated for her stark and emotionally resonant verse.

Sandra Cisneros: Author of The house on Mango Street, a seminal work of Chicana literature, and a champion of diverse voices in storytelling.

Junot Díaz: Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Brief Wondrous life of Oscar wao, known for his exploration of identity, immigration, and the Dominican-American experience.

N.K. Jemisin: Hugo Award-winning science fiction and fantasy author, celebrated for her groundbreaking world-building and social commentary.

Marlon James: Booker Prize-winning author of A Brief History of Seven Killings, known for his complex characters and unflinching portrayal of violence.

Viet Thanh Nguyen: Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer, a novel exploring the complexities of the Vietnam War and its aftermath.

Claudia Rankine: Poet, essayist, and playwright whose work confronts issues of race, identity, and citizenship.

colson Whitehead: Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner for The Underground railroad and The Nickel Boys, known for his powerful past fiction.

Jacqueline Woodson: National Book Award-winning author of young adult and children’s literature, celebrated for her honest and moving portrayals of black life.

The Importance of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award

The Eleanor Roosevelt Award isn’t simply a literary prize; it’s a statement. Named after the former First Lady and human rights advocate, the award recognizes individuals who embody her spirit of courage and conviction.

Historical Context: The award was established in 1984 and has since honored literary giants like Toni Morrison,Arthur Miller,and Salman Rushdie.

Focus on Free Expression: In an era marked by increasing censorship and threats to intellectual freedom, the award serves as a vital reminder of the importance of protecting the right to speak truth to power.

Supporting PEN America’s Mission: The awards gala and related fundraising efforts directly support PEN America’s work defending writers and journalists facing persecution worldwide. This includes legal assistance, advocacy campaigns, and educational programs.

PEN America’s Ongoing Advocacy Efforts

PEN America’s commitment extends far beyond recognizing literary achievement. The institution actively works to:

Combat Book Bans: PEN America has been at the forefront of fighting against the surge in book bans across the United States, notably those targeting works by or about marginalized communities. Their “Banned in the USA” report provides crucial data and analysis on this issue.

Protect Journalists: The organization provides legal support and advocacy for journalists facing threats, harassment, and imprisonment.

Promote Literary Freedom: PEN America champions policies that protect intellectual freedom and ensure access to diverse voices in literature.

Educational Initiatives: They offer resources and training for educators to help them navigate challenges to academic freedom and promote critical thinking.

The Impact of honorees’ Work

Each of the 2025 Eleanor Roosevelt Award recipients has made a significant impact through their writing. Their works have sparked important conversations, challenged societal norms, and inspired readers to engage with the world in new ways.

Atwood’s Dystopian Visions: Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, for example, has become a chillingly relevant cautionary tale about the dangers of authoritarianism and the suppression of women’s rights.

Coates’ Examination of Race: Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me offers a powerful and deeply personal exploration of race in America, prompting critical self-reflection and dialogue.

Jemisin’s Afrofuturist Worlds: N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy reimagines fantasy and science fiction, centering Black characters and challenging traditional genre conventions.

Resources for Further Exploration

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