Chester Himes Award Winners

2003 Chester Himes Award Winner, Gary Phillips
is introduced by Renay Jackson,
the 2002 Chester Himes Award Winner

Chester Himes’ characters Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed are considered to be the first detectives in the black mystery genre.

The Chester Himes Black Mystery Award given annually to a published black mystery writer is FOCH ‘s way of keeping Mr. Himes’ memory alive while honoring the accomplishments of contemporary Black writers.

1996 - Gar Anthony Haywood

1997 - Terris Grimes

1998 - Walter Mosley

1999 - Robert Greer

2000 - Eleanor Taylor Bland

2001- Alice Holman

2002- Renay Jackson

2003- Gary Phillips

2004 - No award given

2005 - Announced at Conference