PVPF 2024

The Israeli-Hamas Conflict causes Havoc at the National Book Awards

National Book Awards face controversy as authors plan Gaza cease-fire plea, prompting sponsor pullouts. Cultural event takes an unexpected political turn.
on Nov 15, 2023

Two sponsors have backed out of the Wednesday event after learning that some of the authors involved plan to make a political statement on the crisis.

As the cultural impact from the Middle East war continues, several National Book Award contenders intend to call for a cease-fire in Gaza during the ceremony on Wednesday. After realising that the writers were planning a political statement, two sponsors have decided not to
attend the ceremony.

"I don't want to look back on this time," said Aaliyah Bilal, a fiction category finalist and one of the authors planning to speak out, "and say that I was silent while people were suffering."

Rumours circulated in the days before up to the event that authors would make a statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict, but it was unclear what the statement would include, which worried numerous sponsors.

Zibby Media was one of the sponsors who backed out after finding that certain authors were planning a political statement. In an essay published on Substack, Zibby Owens, the company's founder, stated that her company withdrew because she was concerned that the remarks at the ceremony would take a stance against Israel, noting that "we simply can't be a part of anything that promotes discrimination, in this case of Israel and the Jewish people."

Another sponsor, Book of the Month, has also opted out. The organisation said in a statement that it will continue to support the event.

The National Book Foundation sent a mail to all sponsors and ticket buyers on Tuesday, alerting them to the possibility that winners will make political statements from the stage. According to the letter, one group has opted to discontinue its sponsorship entirely.

"This is by no means unprecedented in the history of the National Book Awards, or indeed any awards ceremony, but given the extraordinarily painful moment we are in, we felt it best to reach out in case you have any questions or concerns," said Ruth Dickey, the foundation's executive director.

Bilal stated that several finalists intend to enter the stage at the end of the ceremony while one person reads the statement. She and other writers want to show sensitivity to casualties on all sides by phrasing the appeal for a cease-fire, she said, and expressly criticise antisemitism.

"It was very important, as we were constructing it, that we were clear that we are sensitive to all of the antisemitism going on in this moment," Bilal remarked when asked about the statement. "We don't want to contribute to inflaming that."

It's hardly the first time that politics has dominated the National Book Awards. The award presentation took held in 2016, just after Donald Trump was elected president. Many of the award winners discussed the difficulties of living in politically and culturally polarised times, and others, notably fiction winner Colson Whitehead, specifically criticised Trump, alluding to the "blasted hellhole wasteland of Trumpland."

Authors have also given scathing remarks in recent years on racism, the treatment of migrants in the United States, and the lack of diversity in the publishing sector.

The literary world is politically liberal, and has historically been united on topics such as immigration and racial equality. However, the present confrontation in Israel and Gaza has proven divisive. Last month, the 92nd Street Y, one of New York's top cultural institutions, drew controversy for cancelling a presentation by novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen after he signed an open letter criticising Israel's Gaza assault. Other writers, including poet Paisley Rekdal and critic Andrea Long Chu, backed out of 92Y events in response to the cancellation, and other staff members left. Other events showcasing Palestinian artists and writers, including those at the Frankfurt Book Fair, have been cancelled, prompting prominent literary figures to warn against silencing Palestinian voices.

The National Book Awards, presently in its 74th year, are one of the country's most renowned literary awards. This year's ceremony will be presented by actor and literacy champion LeVar Burton on November 15 in New York. The event usually attracts over 700 people, and awards are given out in five categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people's literature.