Highlighting Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo

Written by Josary Valeiron and Itzel Torres Valdez

Elizabeth Acevedo is an Afro-Dominican performer, author, and poet; she identifies as Afro-Latina. She was born of Dominican immigrants and raised in New York. At a young age, Acevedo realized that she wanted to perform poetry and competed in her first poetry slam at the Nuyorican Poets Café, and participated in open mics around the city. She grew up in a predominantly Dominican, Puerto Rican, and religiously Catholic neighborhood. Although raised Catholic, she no longer practices the religion, though she still considers her relationship with her religion to be developing and questions it in her work. Currently, she lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband.

The work of Elizabeth Acevedo is inspired by the lack of diversity in children's books, which encouraged her to write her books: “The Poet X," “With the Fire on High,” and “Clap When You Land.” Her talent has won her multiple awards for the New York Times, Carnegie Medal, and National Book Award Winner for her bestseller, “The Poet X.” This bestseller explores the intricacies of life as a first-generation Afro-Latinx teenage girl. In addition to her bestseller, Acevedo describes her work as an embodiment of authenticity that focuses on womanhood, Afro-Dominican-ness, and Afro/Latinidad. Acevedo uses her writing to get a better understanding of herself as well as the world around her. Hoping to influence young adults of color to see versions of themselves in her writing.