In her poem “Great,” Curmiah Lisette aims to celebrate of those who know and own their greatness, while putting out a call to action for those who have yet to discover it. “[Great] documents the culture of [devaluing] the worth of the black woman and how we must rise above it,” she said in a statement.“It touches on the idea of matriarchy and how men who are often raised in such environments face the struggle against conforming and submitting to patriarchal traditions.”

Photographer and video artist LaToya Ruby Frazier has been awarded the MacArhtur Fellowship, a prestigious unrestricted fellowship granted to individuals who have shown originality and dedication in their creative pursuits. Each recipient is awarded a "no-strings-attached" stipend of $625,000.