The Lukas Book Prize finalists for 2024 tackle America's most urgent social justice issues through meticulously documented accounts of racial inequality, Native land rights battles, and the legacy of slavery. Announced by Columbia Journalism School and Harvard’s Nieman Foundation, these $10,000 awards honor works embodying late reporter J. Anthony Lukas’ commitment to “serious research and social concern.”
This year’s selection features:
- Investigations into wrongful convictions (Barbara Bradley Hagerty's Bringing Ben Home)
- The generational fight for Indigenous sovereignty (Rebecca Nagle's By the Fire We Carry)
- Microfinance’s failed promises in Africa (Mara Kardas-Nelson)
“At a time of information overload, these books prove why rigorous research and artistry matter,” stated judging chair Suzy Hansen.
The history category finalists reframe pivotal moments: Harvard scholar Edda Fields-Black details Harriet Tubman’s 1863 Combahee River raid freeing 750 slaves, while Michael Waters’ The Other Olympians exposes LGBTQ+ athletes’ struggles against fascism. Work-in-progress contenders include Susie Cagle’s examination of Western ecological collapse and Joe Sexton’s investigation into school shooting survivor trauma.
With past winners like Isabel Wilkerson (Caste) and Justice Department alum Samantha Power, the Lukas Prizes continue elevating narratives that shape national conversations on racial equity and democratic institutions. Winners will be announced March 12.
