American television host Stephen Colbert has been recognised with an anti-censorship award following the end of his 11-year tenure as host of The Late Show, a programme widely known for his outspoken criticism of US President Donald Trump.
The honour was announced on Wednesday as part of the 47th American Book Awards organised by the Before Columbus Foundation, a California-based non-profit organisation founded by author, playwright and publisher Ishmael Reed to promote diversity in American literature and culture.
CBS brought The Late Show to an end in May, saying the decision was based on financial considerations. However, Colbert and several observers have questioned that explanation, noting the timing of the move after years of his public criticism of Trump.
Colbert shared the anti-censorship recognition with Mitchell Kaplan, founder of the independent bookstore chain Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.
The foundation also presented editor and publisher awards to Morgan Entrekin, longtime publisher at Grove/Atlantic, and Roger Malina, executive editor of the academic journal Leonardo.
Other recipients of this year’s American Book Awards include Nicholas Boggs for Baldwin, a biography of James Baldwin; John Fugelsang for Separation of Church and Hate; and poet Adela Najarro for her collection Variations in Blue.
Novelist and playwright Karen Tei Yamashita received the foundation’s lifetime achievement award.
Explaining the purpose of the awards, the foundation said the recognition was created to celebrate literary excellence across the full breadth of American voices.
“The American Book Awards were created to provide recognition for outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America’s diverse literary community,” the foundation said.
“The award winners range from well-known and established writers to under-recognized authors and first works. There are no quotas for diversity; the winners list simply reflects it as a natural process.”
