4 ‘Genius’ Books from 2019 MacArthur Fellow Winners
Explore works by a “rebel historian,” a refugee poet, and a “disrupting” writer.
Published on May 14, 2020
NPR2 min read
Rebel Historian Who Reframes History Receives MacArthur 'Genius' Grant
Kelly Lytle Hernández's work challenges the historical narratives surrounding mass incarceration and immigrant detention. The UCLA professor was named one of this year's 26 MacArthur Fellows.
NPR calls MacArthur “Genius” Grant winner Kelly Lytle Hernández a “rebel historian … whose work challenges the historical narratives surrounding mass incarceration and immigrant detention.” Read this article to find out what the UCLA professor means by the “rebel archive.”
Migra!: A History of the U.S. Border Patrol
Kelly Lytle HernandezKelly Lytle Hernandez was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for “challenging long-held beliefs about the origins, ideology, and evolution of incarceration and immigrant detention practices in the United States,” according to the MacArthur Foundation website. “Migra!” tells the “rebel history” of the United States Border Patrol from its inception in 1924.
The Story of My Teeth
Valeria LuiselliFirst written for factory workers outside Mexico City, “The Story of My Teeth” is the charming and quirky story of a man who buys Marilyn Monroe’s teeth and replaces them for his own. Luiselli’s “novel-essay” blends fiction with historical points of reference that will keep you entertained for the duration of the trip.