Young Writer Tackles Race, Religion, American Identity

The Takeaway

Every year, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards honor the best high school and middle school students in a variety of categories, including painting, journalism and fiction.  Past winners include leaders and luminaries in their respective fields, including Joyce Carol Oates, Andy Warhol and Truman Capote. Some 185,000 pieces of art and writing submitted this year, and eighteen-year-old  Haris Durrani  was one of seven high school seniors to win a gold medal for a portfolio of writing, out of 3,000 portfolio entries. In addition to awards in every category, gold medals are given to the best teenage writers and artists in the nation. Many of the pieces in Durani’s winning portfolio focus on race, religion, immigration and American identity.

Do you support journalism that strengthens our democracy?

At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.

Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!