Identity in America

December 2020

This year, the editors of The Stirling Spoon hosted our first writing competition, centered around the theme of “Identity in America.” In light of international protests calling for social change and the Black Lives Matter movement, we hope to recognize and amplify diverse voices across the United States.

The judges for our 2020 competition were U.S. Poet Laureate Richard Blanco and author of the critically acclaimed short story collection Why Visit America, Matthew Baker. To learn more about the “Identity in America” competition, view our Contests Tab.

Winners:

Poetry: Letters From a Poet to Her Mother Tongue on Not Calling Home by Michelle Garcia Fresco, chosen by Richard Blanco

Prose: Short Dictionary of American English Words About Me by Rachele Salvini, chosen by Matthew Baker

runner-Ups:

Budet by Casandra Hernández Ríos | Prose

Collateral by Laura Joyce-Hubbard | Poetry

The Wall by Bryan Starchman | Prose