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Leonard Pitts Jr.

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The United States

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http://www.leonardpittsjr.com

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December 2018

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Leonard Pitts Jr. was born and raised in Southern California. He is a columnist for the Miami Herald and won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He was also a finalist for the Pulitzer in 1992. In 1997, Pitts took first place for commentary in division four (newspapers with a circulation of more than 300,000) in the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors' Ninth Annual Writing Awards competition. His columns on the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman have garnered much attention from his peers and readers alike.

Pitts's column, "We'll Go Forward From This Moment," an angry and defiant open letter to the terrorists, generated upwards of 30,000 emails and has since been set to music, reprinted in poster form, r ...more

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Leonard Pitts Jr. From a number of things, actually. For me, books often start with themes and places even more than with characters.
For whatever reason, I've been part…moreFrom a number of things, actually. For me, books often start with themes and places even more than with characters.
For whatever reason, I've been particularly fascinated in recent years with America in the 1940s, which I view as the hinge point of the 20th century and the era which, more than any other, shaped the world we live in today. I wanted the challenge of trying to recreate that time in a book.
Thematically, I wanted to write about faith - not as something clean or easy as it is often portrayed, but as something hard and difficult to hold onto when the whole world is burning down around you - and yet, more critical to hold onto for just that reason.
And then, there's race. We often hear various firebrands prophesize a looming race war. My contention is that we've already had it, and it was called World War II. The war is not often framed in that way, but consider: Hitler sought to annihilate the Jews because he considered them an inferior race. He turned on the Russians whom he also considered his biological lessers. The Japanese ran riot in Asia, believing other Asians their inferiors. And America plunged in to fight those bigoted ideologies with...wait for it...a Jim Crow military. As that military struggled overseas, Japanese Americans were being interred, Mexican-Americans were being beaten up by soldiers and sailors in L.A. and African-Americans were enduring mass casualty attacks from white Americans here at home. All this at a time when the nation was theoretically pulling together for victory.
So those are the three streams of thought that came together to produce "The Last Thing You Surrender." I'm looking forward to hearing what you think.(less)

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Is there any chance that a follow up book to The Last Thing You Surrender is possible?

Leonard Pitts Jr. Yes. I’m editing a sequel now. If it survives that process, then maybe…

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Leonard Pitts Jr.’s books

Average rating: 4.39 · 7,216 ratings · 1,336 reviews · 15 distinct works • Similar authors

	Freeman 4.32 avg rating — 3,683 ratings — published 2012 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Last Thing You Surrender 4.66 avg rating — 1,905 ratings — published 2019 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Grant Park 4.24 avg rating — 697 ratings — published 2015 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Before I Forget 4.24 avg rating — 686 ratings — published 2009 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Forward From this Moment: The Columns of Leonard Pitts, Jr. 4.11 avg rating — 87 ratings — published 2009 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood 3.90 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 1999 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Racism in America: Cultural Codes and Color Lines in the 21st Century 4.27 avg rating — 11 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Glamour Girls of Hollywood 2.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 1984	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mr. Wonderful: Stevie Wonder did not like it 1.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1984	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Reach Out: The Diana Ross Story did not like it 1.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1983	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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The Last Thing You Surrender

by Leonard Pitts Jr. (Goodreads Author)

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Sep 04, 2019 11:09AM

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Leonard’s Recent Updates

Leonard Pitts answered Jessalyn Joy's question: Is there any chance that a follow up book to The Last Thing You Surrender is possible? Yes. I’m editing a sequel now. If it survives that process, then maybe…
Jan 10, 2023 05:11AM · 6 likes · like
Leonard Pitts answered Isaac Erazo's question: Thoughts on the zaza? I have literally no idea what you’re talking about.
Jan 10, 2023 05:11AM · 2 likes · like

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Quotes by Leonard Pitts Jr. (?)

“Not everyone has something to say. This will not stop them from saying it.”
― Leonard Pitts Jr.

15 likes

“Sometimes, you simply must follow your heart," she said. "No reasonable man can blame you for that." A smile. "No reasonable woman can, either.”
― Leonard Pitts Jr., Freeman

tags: book-club

9 likes

“Make sure your decency, your humanity, is the last thing you give up.”
― Leonard Pitts Jr., The Last Thing You Surrender

tags: dignity, humanity, pride

7 likes

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Polls

Here is the poll for our May group read, the theme is Historical Fiction written by Black Male Authors.

- Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

23 votes, 53.5%

- Yonder by Jabari Asim

6 votes, 14.0%

- In West Mills by De'Shawn Charles Winslow

4 votes, 9.3%

- Freeman by Leonard Pitts Jr.

4 votes, 9.3%

- Africaville by Jeffrey Colvin

3 votes, 7.0%

- Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman

1 vote, 2.3%

In West Mills (write-in)

1 vote, 2.3%

Freeman (write-in)

1 vote, 2.3%

43 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Literary Fiction ...: Best Reads of 2009	49	93	Jan 05, 2010 07:20AM
Literary Fiction ...: Book Lists from Carleen Brice	7	39	Jan 09, 2010 12:22AM
Around the World ...: Kim H. Around the World in Books Never-Ending Challenge (Circumnavigator)	13	27	Aug 28, 2012 05:23PM
Literary Fiction ...: Coming Attractions - 2012	62	169	Oct 05, 2012 03:19PM
Literary Fiction ...: Discussion: Freeman	170	186	Nov 12, 2012 12:11PM
Literary Fiction ...: BCALA Literary Awards for 2013	5	51	Feb 11, 2013 07:59AM
Literary Fiction ...: Male African American Writers	11	218	Apr 24, 2014 10:04AM

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Leonard Pitts Jr.’s Followers (342)

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Leonard’s Friends (7)

Leonard Pitts Jr.

Goodreads Author

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Combine EditionsLeonard Pitts Jr.’s books

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Combine Editions
Leonard Pitts Jr.’s books

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Leonard Pitts Jr.'s Blog

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