April 1988

Morrison's novel, based on the true story of Margaret Garner, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and is consistently ranked among the greatest American novels ever written. It cemented her path to the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993 and redefined how American literature confronts the trauma of slavery.

Toni Morrison wins the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Beloved, her 1987 novel about the psychological aftermath of slavery, based on the true story of Margaret Garner. The novel is later voted the best American novel of the past 25 years by the New York Times.

Tracy Chapman's debut album, featuring Fast Car, reaches number one in multiple countries and wins three Grammy Awards including Best New Artist. Her spare folk-inflected storytelling about poverty and race opens new space for Black women in rock and folk.

Michael Jackson's autobiography Moonwalk is published by Doubleday and immediately reaches number one on the New York Times bestseller list. The book covers his childhood in Gary, Indiana, his years with the Jackson 5, and his development as an artist.