Photo credits: Matteo Bellinelli

Two celebrated Black American female authors made history 38 years ago on this date by winning the American Book Award at the same time.

Alice Walker won the American Book Award for fiction for ”The Color Purple,” a classic novel about a poor Southern black woman’s struggle for independence. Also, on April 28, 1983, author Gloria Naylor won the American Book Award for fiction on the strength of her book titled ”The Women of Brewster Place.”

The 1983 winners, in 27 categories of hardcover and paperback books published in the United States in 1982. Their works were selected by juries composed of authors, critics, librarians, booksellers, and editors. Each winner in the 19 categories of literary achievement received $1,000 cash and a sculpture by Louise Nevelson.