Introduction
D. Watkins (born Dwight Watkins; February 10, 1980) is an author and professor at The University of Baltimore.
Life
Watkins was born in Baltimore City to a teenage mother and a father who was in prison. At eighteen, after losing his brother, Watkins began to use and sell narcotics. After a handful of "fateful encounters" he used his illicit profits to buy a bar. He married lawyer Caron Brace in August 2019.
Education
He holds a Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University, and an MFA in creative writing from University of Baltimore.
Career
The Beastside: Living (and Dying) While Black in America
Watkins first book, The Beastside: Living (and Dying) While Black in America was published in 2015 under David Talbot and Skyhorse Publishing's investigative book imprint, Hot Books. The Beast Side tells a tale of two Baltimores, taking an in-depth look at systemic racism and the failure of the education system, particularly for black men.
The Cook Up: A Crack Rock Memoir
The Cook Up: A Crack Rock Memoir published in 2016 by Grand Central Publishing, is a memoir that details the operations of a drug empire following Watkins' brother Bip's death, his acceptance to Georgetown University and the struggle to leave the trade behind. It was named as an editor's pick by the New York Times in May 2016. Kirkus Reviews described the book as "A familiar story to fans of The Wire, but Watkins provides a gritty, vivid first-person document of a desperate demographic."
We Speak For Ourselves
We Speak For Ourselves is Watkins' third book, published in April 2019 by Atria is a collection of essays showcasing black voices in east Baltimore.
Salon
Watkins is currently an editor at large for the online magazine, Salon.