Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson has earned the NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry for her collection, “Perfect Black.”
Wilkinson is an associate professor in the Department of English at the University of Kentucky.
The Image Awards recognize people of color for creative work in television, film, literature, music and social justice. Several of the literary award winners were announced Monday.
“Perfect Black” was published in August by the University Press of Kentucky.
“Crystal Wilkinson combines a deep love for her rural roots with a passion for language and storytelling in this compelling collection of poetry and prose about girlhood, racism, and political awakening, imbued with vivid imagery of growing up in Southern Appalachia,” the publisher describes.
Wilkinson’s partner, Ronald W. Davis, provided the illustrations for the book. He is also a poet.
“I’m in shock and so very grateful,” Wilkinson wrote in a Facebook post on Monday evening about her selection for the Image Award. “Thank y’all for all of your support. I thank my ancestors and I’m so very proud to be Silas and Christine’s granddaughter and proud to be from Indian Creek, Kentucky!”
Wilkinson is the first Black woman to be named Poet Laureate of Kentucky. She’s also the author of “The Birds of Opulence,” “Blackberries, Blackberries,” “Water Street.”
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
