For you, along with another, and Mr. Pulitzer himself:
In September, a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead
Reading time: 4 minutes
Colson Whitehead's novel, "The Nickel Boys," released in Italy by Mondadori (translated by Silvia Pareschi), won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction on May 4, making Whitehead the second African-American writer to receive this distinction following his win in 2017 for "The Underground Railroad." This compelling narrative, reminiscent of a late-night reading session that kept me captivated until 5 AM, displays Whitehead's exceptional storytelling prowess.
Set in 1960s America, a time marked by racial segregation, "The Nickel Boys" revolves around the life of Elwood, a young black boy with dreams of a college education, despite his humble origins. The narrative sheds light on the significant impact that humble beginnings could have on one's educational and life path in racially charged America. Elwood finds himself within the walls of the Nickel, a reform school where he faces brutal violence from the guards. The Nickel Academy is a fictional creation inspired by the real-life atrocities that occurred for decades at the "Dozier School" in Florida. In 2014, the uncovering of some victims' remains exposed the school's long-standing tradition of beating and even killing black boys.
"The Nickel Boys" is a powerful, gripping work, filled with raw, intense violence that resonates like a punch to the gut. Months after my late-night reading marathon, I had the opportunity to meet with the author who'd stirred such emotion within me. Though I'd imagined a lively conversation with a friend, we were merely another journalist asking the questions. Colson Whitehead, a seasoned writer, graciously answered with the insight and wisdom of a veteran interview participant.
Whitehead revealed that he learned about the Dozier School scandal in the summer of 2014, through an investigation published in Northern Florida's newspapers. The unmarked graves being reopened to identify the buried patients piqued his interest, especially considering the majority of students were African-American. Whitehead felt compelled to tell the story from the black perspective and chose to set the novel in 1963, during the peak of Jim Crow laws and segregation in the South, but also as the civil rights movement began to gain traction.
Our discussion continued, focusing on the complex dynamic between Elwood, a deeply idealistic character inspired by Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders, and Turner, a pragmatic survivalist who befriends Elwood at the Nickel. Through this gripping narrative, Whitehead illuminates the heartbreaking truth of America's racial past, while highlighting the ongoing struggles for equality and justice.
In the conversation with Colson Whitehead, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, I asked about the inspiration behind his novel, "The Nickel Boys." Whitehead revealed that the book was partially inspired by the atrocities that occurred at the "Dozier School" in Florida, mentioning how it was filled with books about the subject of entertainment.
