The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence is an annual national literary award designed to recognize rising African-American fiction writers. First awarded in 2007, the prize is underwritten by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in honor of the literary heritage provided by author Ernest J. Gaines, with the winner receiving a cash award ( ) "to support and enable the writer to focus on writing." It has been described as "the nation's biggest prize for African-American writers".
Past winners +Ernest J. Gaines Award winnersYearAuthorTitle20072008Like Trees, Walking2009Holding Pattern: Stories2010Big MachineDavis, Kristy. "O's 2011 Summer Reading List | Big Machine" , Oprah.com, June 13, 2011.2011How to Read the AirHatley, James. "Making Gaines" , 225, Louisiana, May 22, 2012.2012We Are Taking Only What We Need201320142015Welcome to Braggsville2016201720182019Lot2020Everywhere You Don't Belong20212022Mother Country2023Temple Folk2024Swift River2025Great Black Hope
Panel of judges Anthony Grooms Edward P. Jones Elizabeth Nunez Francine Prose
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