2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Anthony “Tony” Grooms

Today, we celebrate the remarkable contributions of Anthony Grooms, a distinguished author whose work illustrates the complexities of African-American experience in the American South. Anthony Grooms is a literary voice of profound depth and clarity. His novels and stories are steeped in historical context, offering readers an unflinching look at the struggles and triumphs of African-Americans throughout history. His works, including Bombingham and The Vain Conversation explore themes of racial injustice, identity, and the enduring quest for equality. Kirkus Review said of The Vain Conversation, quote, "his incisive, gripping, and empathetic novel dares to probe beneath the humiliations, customs, and fears that sustain injustice." Growing up in the segregated South, Grooms witnessed firsthand the resilience and courage of those who fought for civil rights. These experiences not only fueled his passion for storytelling, but also instilled in him a profound sense of responsibility: to honor the past and educate future generations. Grooms' work is not only a testament to his skill as a writer, but has also been a beacon for social change. His storytelling bridges the gap between past and present, reminding us of the ongoing journey toward justice and equality. Through his words, we are invited to reflect, to learn, and to strive for a better future. Anthony Grooms and I worked closely together when I came to KSU in 2020. In fact, he's the main reason I came here. I found in Tony a true friend and mentor, someone whose love for the art sustained me through so many conversations. Tony has also contributed to Georgia Writers' Substack this year, and you don't want to miss out on his lessons on craft. His former students still rave about the lessons he shared with them over the years. Join us in honoring Anthony Grooms for the Georgia Writer's Lifetime Achievement Award. Tony is a writer whose work continues to inspire, challenge, and enlighten. His stories are a testament to the power of literature-- to transform hearts and minds. Thank you, Tony, for your invaluable contributions to literature and to history.

Anthony Grooms has published stories and novels that reflect on the Jim Crow and the American Civil Rights Movement eras. He is the author of the poem collection Ice Poems, the story collection Trouble No More, and the novels Bombingham and The Vain Conversation. His uncollected stories and poems have been published in Callaloo, African American Review, Crab Orchard Review and other literary journals. He is a Fulbright Fellow (Sweden 2006), a Yaddo Fellow, a Finalist for the Legacy Award from Hurston-Wright Foundation, an Arts Administration Fellow from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the recipient of two Lillian Smith Prizes from the Southern Regional Council. For more information, please visit AnthonyGrooms.com and AnthonyGrooms.Substack.com