Mitchell S. Jackson

Jackson was born in Portland, Oregon.[1] He was raised by a single mother.[9] In his youth, he was arrested on drug charges and sent to prison,[10] where he took an interest in literature and began experimenting with autobiographical writing.[9]

Following his release in the summer of 1998,[10] Jackson received a Master of Arts in Writing from Portland State University, as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from New York University.[1]

Jackson is a father of two.[11]

In 2012, Jackson published Oversoul: Stories & Essays, an ebook compilation of short fiction and non-fiction.[1] His debut novel, The Residue Years, was released in the summer of 2013 and was praised by publications such as The New York Times,[12] The Paris Review,[13] and The Sydney Morning Herald.[14] Jackson is a Whiting Award recipient.[2] The Residue Years also won The Ernest Gaines Award for Literary Excellence[3] and was short-listed for the Center For Fiction's Flaherty-Dunnan First novel prize,[15] the PEN/ Hemingway award for first fiction,[16] The Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for best fiction by a writer of African descent;[17] it was short-listed for the William Saroyan International Prize for writing,[18] and named an "Honor Book" by the BCALA.[19] He has been the recipient of fellowships from TED,[7] the Lannan Foundation,[8] The Center For Fiction,[20] and The Bread Loaf Writer's Conference.[21]

Jackson is the co-director, writer, and producer of The Residue Years: A Documentary (2013), a documentary film exploring the autobiographical elements of his novel of the same name.[22] It was an Official Selection of the Portland Film Festival.[23] It premiered on the Web at the Literary Hub website.[22]

Jackson's short fiction, nonfiction, and poetry have been published in Vice, Esquire, Gigantic Magazine, Flaunt Magazine, The Frozen Moment: Contemporary Writers on the Choices That Change Our Lives, and New York Tyrant, among other publications. He was the first Black columnist for Esquire.[24]

Jackson is a former TED speaker.[7] He has also read and/or and lectured at institutions including Brown University,[25] Middlebury College,[26] and UMASS;[27] at events including The Brooklyn Book Festival,[28] and the Sydney Writers' Festival;[29] at various adult prisons and youth facilities;[1] and for organizations including The Pathfinders of Oregon,[30] The PEN/Faulkner Foundation,[31] and The Volunteers of America. He has served on the faculty of New York University,[32] Columbia University,[33] and the University of Chicago.[34] He is currently on the faculty at Arizona State University.[35]

Jackson published Survival Math: Notes on an All American Family in 2019.[36] It was selected for Time's 100 Must-Read Books of 2019,[37] NPR's Books We Love 2019,[38] and Buzzfeed's Best Books of 2019.[39]

• 2004: Hurston Wright Foundation, Award For College Writers (Fiction)
• 2008: Urban Artist Initiative, NYC Fellowship
• 2011: Center For Fiction, Emerging Writers Fellowship[20]
• 2013: New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice
• 2013: Center For Fiction, Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, Finalist[15]
• 2013: American Book Sellers Association, Debut Dozen
• 2014: Sydney Morning Herald, Pick of the Week[14]
• 2014: The New York Times Book Review, Paperback Row
• 2014: Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, Winner [3]
• 2014: Lannan Literary Fellowship, Fiction[8]
• 2014: PEN / Hemingway Debut Fiction Award, Finalist[16]
• 2014: Hurston Wright Legacy Award, Finalist
• 2014: Saroyan International Prize For Writing, Shortlist [18]
• 2014: Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Honor Book[19]
• 2015: Portland Community College, Diamond Alumni Award
• 2015: Everybody Reads Selection, Multnomah County Oregon
• 2016: Whiting Writers’ Award, Winner [2]
• 2016: TED, Fellowship [7]
• 2021: National Magazine Award, Feature Writing [41]
• 2021: Pulitzer Prize, Feature Writing [42]

Wikiquote has quotations related to Mitchell S. Jackson.

• Official website
• Interview with "The Aesthete"
• "Oversoul" in Vice – Fiction Issue
• "Growing Up Black In The Whitest City In America" Essay for "Salon"
• Article on "Oregon Live"
• Interview with "Writermag.com"
• Oprah's Book Club Review of "The Residue Years"
• Jackson reviews "Song of the Shank" for New York Times
• "How to Catch a Racist"
• Portland Tribune article on public speaking
• Article on "Oregon Live"
• Podcast of Jackson speech
• YouTube video of Jackson speech
• PBS Podcast Appearance
• Jackson Interviewed by Tavis Smiley