Trailblazing Journalist Dara T. Mathis Wins $100K American Mosaic Prize
Accomplished writer and journalist Dara T. Mathis has been named the 2024 recipient of the prestigious American Mosaic Journalism Prize for her compelling work illuminating marginalized communities. The $100,000 award is the largest prize given to American journalists.
Maryland Native Honored for Atlantic Article on Black Liberation
Mathis, known for spotlighting Black freedom movements and identity, was recognized for her Atlantic article “A Blueprint for Black Liberation.” The piece explores her upbringing in a radical Black commune and the little-known history of similar collectives.
According to Mathis, she aims to give voice to overlooked stories as a Black journalist.
“As a Black writer, I am keenly aware of how the stories of marginalized people are excluded,” she stated. “My work seeks to connect silenced histories.”
Mathis now plans to expand the award-winning article into a full memoir. The project builds on her mission of bringing neglected narratives into mainstream consciousness.
$100K Mosaic Prize Rewards Reporting on Underrepresented Groups
Created in 2018, the Mosaic Prize champions excellence in deep reporting on misrepresented or neglected communities across America.
At $100,000, the award is the single largest cash prize conferred to US journalists. This year, photojournalist Tamir Kalifa also received the honor for documenting the Uvalde school shooting aftermath.
The California-based Heising-Simons Foundation nominates over 100 journalists annually without their knowledge. A special panel then selects the recipients, who only learn of the surprise honor afterwards.
Early Encouragement Sparked Award-Winner’s Writing Career
Mathis traces her passion for the written word back to childhood, when her mother nurtured her talents.
“My mother would make me read the newspaper and write analyses,” she recalled. “She knew I loved writing.”
The shy introvert discovered a talent for interviewing sources while freelancing, though essay writing remains her first love. Now, the prize-winning scribe uses her platform to call out media bias and stand in solidarity with global freedom fights.
With her bold, enlightening journalism, Dara T. Mathis epitomizes the spirit of the Mosaic Prize. Her determination to unveil “silenced histories” has justly earned one of America’s highest honors in the field.
