Author, columnist Leonard Pitts on his latest book "Freeman"

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Leonard Pitts on his latest book "Freeman"

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Leonard Pitts is the guest on the March 2012 edition of Black Book Talk. Since 1994, Pitts has penned a syndicated column of commentary on pop culture, social issues and family life. He is also the author of several books, including Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood,Before I Forget (a novel) and Forward from This Moment, a collection of his columns.

Pitts’ work has appeared in such publications as Musician, Spin, Reader’s Digest and Parenting. He wrote, produced and syndicated Who We Are, an award-winning 1988 radio documentary about the history of Black America, and has written and produced numerous other radio programs on subjects as diverse as Madonna and Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 2004, Pitts was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. In 2009 and 2002, GLAAD Media awarded Pitts the Outstanding Newspaper Columnist award. In 2002, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists awarded Pitts its inaugural Columnist of the Year award. Other recognitions include the prestigious ASNE Award for Commentary Writing from the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the Feature of the Year—Columnist award from Editor and Publisher magazine, both in 2001.

Millions of readers were initially introduced to Pitts through a column he penned in response to the 9/11 attacks. His defiant, open letter to the terrorists circulated the globe, generating 30,000 emails, and has since been set to music, reprinted in poster form, and quoted on television and radio.