Tyehimba Jess

Tyehimba Jess’ first book of poetry, leadbelly, is a winner of the 2004 National Poetry Series. His numerous awards include fellowships from the NEA, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, and the Illinois Arts Council; the 2001 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Poetry Award, and the 2001 Chicago Sun-Times Poetry Award. He holds degrees from New York University and the University of Chicago. A native of Detroit, Jess is also a proud alumnus of the Chicago Green Mill Slam teams and Cave Canem. His first non-fiction book, African American Pride: Celebrating our Achievements, Contributions, and Legacy, was published by Citadel Press in 2003.