Global Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize

Deadline Date: June 30, 2024

 Donor Name: Cassava Republic Press

 Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

As part of its mission as a global Black publishing house connecting Africa and the African diaspora, the Cassava Republic Press is thrilled to announce the launch of the inaugural Global Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize dedicated to exceptional works by Black women (cis, trans and genderqueer).

The prize represents a first in the world of Black women’s letters, not only by virtue of its global scope, but also its non-fiction focus, and its generous prize value. Their mission is to publish emerging and established Black women writers and thinkers from across the world, focusing on critical ideas across time and space.

At the heart of this prize lies a deep commitment to amplifying the long tradition of Black women writers as knowledge-makers and critical thinkers. They take seriously Black South African feminist scholar and writer Desiree Lewis’ observation that ‘publishers have tended to focus on black women’s fictional and autobiographical writing, or on poetry. This tends to be symptomatic of a publishing and reading/marketing stereotype about black women in the public sphere being “interesting” mainly as entertainers, storytellers, or so-called “creatives,” rather than as knowledge-makers and critical thinkers.’

Prize Information

• The winner of the Global Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize will receive a $20,000 advance and a publishing contract with Cassava Republic Press. 
• Two runner-up writers will each receive a $5000 advance and publication by Cassava Republic Press bringing the total prize value up to $30,000.

What they are looking for?

• They are looking to publish and champion Black women writers who bridge the gap between “creativity” and “theory” with work that is both rigorous and beautiful, creative and thoughtful.
• They are not an academic publisher, but welcome submissions from academics writing for a mainstream audience. Their goal is to amplify and unearth the critical ideas that might otherwise remain unpublished or confined to academic circles or smaller audiences. Importantly, in seeking creative critical writing and knowledge-making for a broad audience, they welcome writing that will challenge and excite their readers.
• They do not accept straightforward memoirs, but manuscripts that incorporate theory with personal essays/experiences within a broader context are welcome.

Eligibility Criteria

• The manuscript prize is open to Black women writers aged 18 and over living anywhere in the world.

For more information, visit Cassava Republic Press.