Black Men And Women Of Their Words

Finalists for nonfiction were Lisa E. Farrington for "Creating Their Own Image" and Donald Bogle for "Bright Boulevard, Bold Dreams," the untold stories of how blacks made it in Hollywood.

Nicholas did not attend, but a friend read her acceptance speech: "There is nothing better than a good read" that makes you "stay awake late reading on, eyes tired and red with that anxiety of nearing the last page as you reach for the conclusion and wish to God there was more story to go."

Author Marita Golden, a co-founder and now president of the foundation, said in program notes that the "African and African American communities have, for a very long time, needed a way to say, 'Amen,' to their griots, conjurers and word magicians."

Still you wonder how anyone could fill the shoes of Zora and Richard, produce literature that stays on the shelf because each time you read it, between the pages and the years, you find something else they wanted to say.

Since that question can't be answered, you ask another: If Zora and Richard were telling the story of racism and oppression in America in their generations, what is the story of this generation of writers?

You stop finalist Jones, who is glittering in her beauty. She says quickly: "There is a multiplicity of message. We are black writers, but we express our individual stories. It's messier now. You never know what black writing looks like now. When you open a black book, you never know what you might get."

Contemporary fiction winner Ford said: "The first thing any writer is trying to do is tell a story. We are not trying to say something, but tell a story about hopes, aspirations and challenges. I see myself standing on the shoulders of great writers."

Nonfiction winner Franklin was not there. But you still wanted to know how he might answer that question. So you find his son, who accepted the award for him. The son says, "Let me see whether I can get the author to answer that." So he opens his cellphone and calls Franklin, who at 91 is just coming home for the evening in Durham, N.C.

"Let me see," Franklin says. "I think we are still searching unanswered questions about society and where it is. I'm confused about where we are going, not really in the world but with respect to American society. I am not persuaded we are going in the right direction. I am not persuaded we have a genuine commitment to equality."

The foundation's North Star Award, which recognizes those whose writing and/or service to the black writing community have inspired others, went to Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press, and William E. Cox, founder and former publisher of Black Issues Book Review.

The Madame C.J. Walker Award, given to businesses that sustain black literature, went to Karibu Books.

The evening's emcee, S. Epatha Merkerson -- Golden still calls her "the sister from 'Law and Order,' " she joked -- navigated with laughter among the deep waters of the audience. Because you know if they can write like Zora or Richard, they are deep.

"I just love being around writers," Merkerson said. "You guys are so witty."