During his two decades at Truthout, William Rivers Pitt (1971-2022) chronicled and analyzed the political issues of the day, from George W. Bush’s administration and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the horrors of the Trump era, to the dangers of the climate crisis. While he never shied away from acknowledging the gravity of the crises we face, Will also brought an earnest and profound sense of hope to his columns, urging his readers to greet the world with “stout hearts,” and to take action even when the odds look grim.
In his honor, Truthout has established the William Rivers Pitt Fellowship For Emerging Writers to nurture the work of emerging authors. This role is geared toward emerging writers with strong voices who are passionate about progressive politics and avidly follow breaking political news, in the spirit of Will’s passion for using the written word to make political change. Keep an eye on Truthout’s Job Openings page for more information on when the new fellowship cycle will open.
We miss you, William Rivers Pitt! Your light shines on.
Meet the Fellows:
Ngakiya Camara is a freelance journalist and recent graduate of American University. An arts-activist, her work and research centers Black healing in mobilization, African independence movements, global Indigeneity and sovereignty, and the history of her parents’ homeland in Guinea.
Kwolanne Felix is a writer and an advocate of gender equality and the environment. She recently graduated from Columbia University and studied history, with research interests in the African diaspora, international development, gender-responsive frameworks and environmental policies. Kwolanne writes opinion pieces and articles addressing politics, gender, climate, race, and various other intersecting experiences. Her writing has been published in Ms. Magazine, Womanly Magazine and The Eco Justice Project. Kwolanne has worked with organizations like the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Climate Justice Coalition, and Columbia Climate School. She was a 2021 UN Human Rights fellow for the People of African Descent program.
If you’d like to make a financial contribution to help us fund this fellowship you can donate any amount here.