In the Media

Highlights of Freedom Reads and its work in the media.

Le Inside Literary Prize 2024 est décerné à Imani Perry
Livres Hebdo by Léon Cattan August 8, 2024

Imani Perry is the winner of the inaugural Inside Literary Prize, the first major US-book award judged exclusively by incarcerated individuals.

A book prize picked by prisoners
The Dallas Morning News by Tyra Damm August 8, 2024

The Dallas Morning News spoke with Lori Feathers, Dallas bookstore owner and collaborator in launching the Inside Literary Prize, about the inaugural award.

Inaugural Inside Literary Prize Empowers Incarcerated Readers
Publishers Weekly by Sophia Stewart August 7, 2024

The inaugural Inside Literary Prize, judged by over 200 incarcerated readers in prisons across the country, was awarded on August 1 to Imani Perry for her book, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation.

Imani Perry Wins Literary Prize Judged by Incarcerated Individuals
The New York Carib News by Mell P August 7, 2024

Imani Perry won this year's inaugural Inside Literary Prize, the first major US-book award judged entirely by incarcerated readers.

Reginald Dwayne Betts, Dungeons and Dragons, and Olympics art
GBH by Jared Bowen August 7, 2024

Freedom Reads Founder & CEO Reginald Dwayne Betts joined GBH's Jared Bowen on The Culture Show to talk about the inaugural Inside Literary Prize.

Incarcerated Judges Select First Winner Of Inside Literary Prize
Black Enterprise by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman August 5, 2024

Imani Perry was awarded the inaugural Inside Literary Prize, the first major US-book award judged entirely by incarcerated people, for her book, South to America: a Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation.

Inside Literary Prize awarded to Imani Perry
The Brooklyn Eagle by Robert Abruzzese August 3, 2024

Imani Perry won the inaugural Inside Literary Prize, the first major US-based book awarded judged exclusively by incarcerated people, for her book, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation.

Imani Perry Wins Inaugural Inside iterary Prize
Kirkus Reviews by Michael Schaub August 2, 2024

Imani Perry won the inaugural Inside Literary Prize, the first ever US-based book award judged exclusively by incarcerated people.

The first US Book Prize judged entirely by incarcerated people has announced a winner.
Lit Hub by Brittany Allen August 2, 2024

Author Imani Perry won the inaugural Inside Literary Prize, an effort launched by Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, the Center for Justice Innovation, and Dallas bookstore owner Lori Feathers, at a ceremony at The New York Public Library.

First annual 'Inside Literary Prize' judged by incarcerated people
Spectrum News NY1 by Annika Pergament August 1, 2024

Freedom Reads Founder & CEO Reginald Dwayne Betts spoke with Annika Pergament, host of NY1's The Rush Hour, about the Inside Literary Prize, the first major US-based book award judged exclusively by incarcerated people, and the upcoming award ceremony.

Library of Virginia names finalists for 2024 Literary Awards
Richmond Free Press August 1, 2024

Freedom Reads Founder & CEO Reginald Dwayne Betts will receive the Library of Virginia's honorary Patron of Letters degree this fall.

Inside Literary Prize: Shakopee Women's Prison
New Thinking, from the Center for Justice Innovation by Matt Watkins August 1, 2024

The Center for Justice Innovation's Matt Watkins sat in on the Inside Literary Prize book discussion with the Inside Literary Prize judges incarcerated at Minnesota Correctional Facility - Shakopee.