The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence is a yearly national award that honors new African-American fiction writers. It was first given in 2007 and is funded by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to honor the literary contributions of author Ernest J. Gaines. The winner receives a cash prize of $15,000 (as of 2020) to help the writer focus on their writing. This award is called "the nation's biggest prize for African-American writers."
