Virginia State College (VSU), a proud HBCU, honors Dr. Latorial Faison, Assistant Professor and Chair of the Division of Languages & Literature, for her outstanding achievement in poetry. Her newest e book, Nursery Rhymes in Black, has earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination in Poetry, one of the prestigious awards in American literature.
Pulitzer Prize Nomination for Nursery Rhymes in Black
The College of Alaska Press printed Nursery Rhymes in Black after it gained the 2023 Permafrost Poetry E book Prize. The press launched the e book on July 15, 2025, and later submitted it for Pulitzer Prize consideration.
Dr. Faison expressed her gratitude:
“It’s an honor to have my new e book, Nursery Rhymes in Black, nominated for the Pulitzer. This assortment is deeply tied to the guts and historical past of who I’m as a Black lady in America. I’m grateful to trailblazers like Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton, and Nikki Giovanni, whose voices carved the trail, stored the sunshine on, and made this second potential.”
A Poetic Journey of Tradition, Race, and Id
In Nursery Rhymes in Black, Dr. Faison reimagines acquainted childhood rhymes by means of the lens of Black historical past, tradition, and private expertise. She blends custom, reminiscence, and resistance to create a strong poetic recollection of race, roots, and identification.
Many acclaimed literary voices praised the e book, together with:
Dr. Joanne Gabbin, founding father of the Livid Flower Poetry Middle
Judy Juanita, acclaimed author and activist
Glenis Redmond, award-winning poet
Trudier Harris, famous literary critic
Cedric Tillman, celebrated poet
These students and writers highlighted how Dr. Faison captures the depth of Black household life, resilience, and cultural pleasure.
Dr. Faison’s Legacy and Literary Contributions
A proud HBCU alumna from Virginia State College, Dr. Faison has written greater than 16 books, together with:
Mom to Son
28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black Historical past
The Missed Schooling of the Negro: An Examination of the Black Segregated Schooling Expertise of Southampton County, 1950–1970
Her Pulitzer Prize nomination demonstrates her literary excellence and strengthens VSU’s repute for nurturing voices that replicate the richness of Black historical past, reminiscence, and resilience.
Wanting Forward
The committee will announce the 2026 Pulitzer Prize winners in Might 2026. Whatever the final result, Dr. Faison’s nomination already affirms her artistry and the lasting impression of her work on American literature.
