Adam Serwer

{{Infobox person

|name = Adam Serwer

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|birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1982}}

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|nationality = American

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|education = {{plainlist|

Vassar College (AB)
Columbia University (MA)

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|occupation = Journalist

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|employer = The Atlantic

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Adam Serwer (born 1982){{Cite web|url=https://interactives.theroot.com/root-100-2018|title=The Root 100 - The Most Influential African Americans In 2018|website=The Root|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404072354/http://interactives.theroot.com/root-100-2018/|url-status=live}} is an American journalist and author. He is a staff writer at The Atlantic where his work focuses on politics, race, and justice. He previously worked at BuzzFeed News, The American Prospect, and Mother Jones.

Serwer has received awards from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), The Root, and the Society of Professional Journalists. He was named a spring 2019 Shorenstein Center fellow, and received the 2019 Hillman Prize for Opinion & Analysis Journalism.{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/digital/the-atlantic-adds-adam-serwer-siddhartha-mahanta/|title=The Atlantic Adds Adam Serwer, Siddhartha Mahanta|last1=Grinapol|first1=Corinne|website=Adweek|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108122709/https://www.adweek.com/digital/the-atlantic-adds-adam-serwer-siddhartha-mahanta/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article229576759.html|title='Perversion of Justice' wins Hillman Foundation award for socially responsible journalism|work=Miami Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-04-24|archive-date=April 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424003659/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article229576759.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Adam Serwer|url=https://prospect.org/topics/adam-serwer/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=The American Prospect|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|title=Adam Serwer|url=https://www.motherjones.com/author/adam-serwer/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US}}

Life and career

Serwer was raised in Washington, D.C.{{Cite news|url=https://prospect.org/article/being-black-sidwell|title=On Being Black at Sidwell|last=Serwer|first=Adam|date=2008-12-16|work=The American Prospect|accessdate=2019-04-02|issn=1049-7285|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044609/https://prospect.org/article/being-black-sidwell|url-status=live}} His father, Daniel Serwer, was in the Foreign Service, which resulted in Serwer spending part of his childhood overseas. His mother, Jacquelyn Serwer, is the chief curator of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture.{{cite news |last1=Boorstein |first1=Michelle |title=Jewish community trying to make room for interfaith couples |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/synagogues-try-to-change-with-the-interfaith-times--without-going-too-far/2014/08/09/e2ebe97c-1273-11e4-8936-26932bcfd6ed_story.html |accessdate=2019-06-28 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=March 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309152905/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/synagogues-try-to-change-with-the-interfaith-times--without-going-too-far/2014/08/09/e2ebe97c-1273-11e4-8936-26932bcfd6ed_story.html |url-status=live }} His father is European and Jewish and his mother is African-American.{{Cite web|url=https://www.momentmag.com/how-is-your-judaism-different-from-your-parents/|title=How Is Your Judaism Different From Your Parents'?|date=2019-03-20|website=Moment Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402045556/https://www.momentmag.com/how-is-your-judaism-different-from-your-parents/|url-status=live}} He has a brother named Jared Serwer.

Serwer received his bachelor's degree from Vassar College and his master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.{{Cite web|url=https://rollingout.com/2016/09/06/adam-serwer-editor-mission-empower-readers/|title=Adam Serwer is an editor on a mission to empower readers|last=Yolanda Young|date=September 6, 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402050105/https://rollingout.com/2016/09/06/adam-serwer-editor-mission-empower-readers/|url-status=live}} Following graduate school, he was a writing fellow at The American Prospect.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/adam-serwer|title=Adam Serwer|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044558/https://www.theguardian.com/profile/adam-serwer|url-status=live}} He later worked at Mother Jones,{{Cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/author/adam-serwer/|title=Adam Serwer|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-22|archive-date=October 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014001253/https://www.motherjones.com/author/adam-serwer/|url-status=live}} MSNBC, The Washington Post, Jack and Jill Politics, Salon, and The Atlantic as a guest blogger for Ta-Nehisi Coates.{{Cite web|last=Adam Serwer|title=Adam Serwer|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/author/adam-serwer/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401132225/https://www.theatlantic.com/author/adam-serwer/|archive-date=April 1, 2019|access-date=2019-10-22|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/mylestanzer/american-prospect-mass-exodus-begins|title=American Prospect Mass Exodus Begins|last=Tanzer|first=Myles|website=BuzzFeed|date=June 2, 2014 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044559/https://www.buzzfeed.com/mylestanzer/american-prospect-mass-exodus-begins|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2016-09-06|title=Adam Serwer is an editor on a mission to empower readers|url=https://rollingout.com/2016/09/06/adam-serwer-editor-mission-empower-readers/|access-date=2021-04-24|website=Rolling Out|language=en-US}} He began work at BuzzFeed News as the national editor in August 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2014/adam-serwer-is-buzzfeeds-new-national-editor/|title=Adam Serwer is BuzzFeed's new national editor|date=2014-08-12|website=Poynter|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402050112/https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2014/adam-serwer-is-buzzfeeds-new-national-editor/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/media/story/2014/08/adam-serwer-named-buzzfeed-national-editor-000652|title=Adam Serwer named Buzzfeed national editor|last=Levy|first=Nicole|website=Politico|date=August 12, 2014 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044602/https://www.politico.com/media/story/2014/08/adam-serwer-named-buzzfeed-national-editor-000652|url-status=live}} Serwer was hired as a senior editor at The Atlantic on August 15, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/digital/the-atlantic-adds-2-promotes-sacha-zimmerman/|title=The Atlantic Adds 2, Promotes Sacha Zimmerman|last1=O'Shea|first1=Chris|website=Adweek|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044610/https://www.adweek.com/digital/the-atlantic-adds-2-promotes-sacha-zimmerman/|url-status=live}} His work there has focused on white supremacy, race in America, and the Trump administration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/what-discrimination|title=What Discrimination?|publisher=WNYC|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402073450/https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/what-discrimination|url-status=live}} Essays such as "The Nationalist's Delusion", "White Nationalism's Deep American Roots", and "The Cruelty Is the Point" have been cited by other journalists in various outlets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cjr.org/the_feature/uncivil-slavery.php|title=Yes, the Civil War was about slavery. Just listen to Uncivil|website=Columbia Journalism Review|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044602/https://www.cjr.org/the_feature/uncivil-slavery.php|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/trump-and-the-nationalist-s-delusion-1102292035518|title=Trump and 'The Nationalist's Delusion'|work=MSNBC|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044603/https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/trump-and-the-nationalist-s-delusion-1102292035518|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/opinion/donald-trump-2016-election.html|title=Race and Class and What Happened in 2016|last=Douthat|first=Ross|author-link=Ross Douthat|date=2017-11-29|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-02|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044600/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/opinion/donald-trump-2016-election.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.splcenter.org/news/2019/03/16/weekend-read-horrifying-pattern-white-supremacist-attacks|title=Weekend Read: A horrifying pattern of white supremacist attacks|website=Southern Poverty Law Center|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044613/https://www.splcenter.org/news/2019/03/16/weekend-read-horrifying-pattern-white-supremacist-attacks|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a25619849/best-internet-stories-read-2018/|title=9 Writers Share the Absolute Best Thing They Read on the Internet in 2018|last=Feller|first=Madison|date=2018-12-19|website=Elle|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402054309/https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a25619849/best-internet-stories-read-2018/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/11/18131370/andrew-sullivan-religion-tribalism-christianity-trump|title=The political tribalism of Andrew Sullivan|last=Klein|first=Ezra|date=2018-12-11|website=Vox|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402054309/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/11/18131370/andrew-sullivan-religion-tribalism-christianity-trump|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/trump-war-on-trans-people|title=The Trump Administration's War on Trans People Is Pointless and Cruel|website=GQ|date=October 22, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-09|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413054510/https://www.gq.com/story/trump-war-on-trans-people|url-status=live}} He has also appeared on other media outlets such as All Things Considered, The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, In the Thick, and On My Mind with Diane Rehm to discuss his writing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-atlantics-adam-serwer-tells-jordan-klepper-how-to-k-1822791306|title=The Atlantic's Adam Serwer tells Jordan Klepper how to know who Donald Trump really is|last=Perkins|first=Dennis|website=The A.V. Club|date=February 7, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402082706/https://www.avclub.com/the-atlantics-adam-serwer-tells-jordan-klepper-how-to-k-1822791306|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/14/703535343/white-nationalist-rhetoric-heard-today-echoes-america-a-century-ago|title=White Nationalist Rhetoric Heard Today Echoes America A Century Ago|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=March 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317131309/https://www.npr.org/2019/03/14/703535343/white-nationalist-rhetoric-heard-today-echoes-america-a-century-ago|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://dianerehm.org/shows/2019-04-02/an-american-whose-views-on-white-nationalism-influenced-hitler|title=An American Whose White Nationalist Theories Inspired Hitler|website=Diane Rehm|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-09|archive-date=April 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409040600/https://dianerehm.org/shows/2019-04-02/an-american-whose-views-on-white-nationalism-influenced-hitler|url-status=live}} In his best known essay, "The Cruelty Is the Point", published in 2018,{{Cite web|last=Serwer|first=Adam|date=2018-10-03|title=The Cruelty Is the Point|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/the-cruelty-is-the-point/572104/|access-date=2021-07-04|website=The Atlantic|language=en}} Serwer argued that the Trump administration’s policies were not only cruel, but cruel by design.

Serwer received a fellowship from the Shorenstein Center in 2019, for which he researched the historical role of African Americans and voting.{{Cite web|url=https://shorensteincenter.org/shorenstein-center-announces-spring-2019-fellows/|title=Shorenstein Center Announces Spring 2019 Fellows|date=2019-01-09|website=Shorenstein Center|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044603/https://shorensteincenter.org/shorenstein-center-announces-spring-2019-fellows/|url-status=live}} He received the 2019 Hillman Prize for his work on the rise of Trump, Trumpism and America's history of racism.{{cite web |title=2019 Hillman Prize for Opinion & Analysis Journalism |url=http://www.hillmanfoundation.org/hillman-prizes/2019-hillman-prize-opinion-analysis-journalism |website=The Sidney Hillman Foundation |date=April 16, 2019 |accessdate=24 April 2019 |archive-date=April 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424022822/http://www.hillmanfoundation.org/hillman-prizes/2019-hillman-prize-opinion-analysis-journalism |url-status=live }}

His first book, The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America, is a collection of essays that was released June 29, 2021 by One World/Penguin Random House.{{Cite web|title=The Cruelty Is the Point by Adam Serwer: 9780593230800 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/665171/the-cruelty-is-the-point-by-adam-serwer/|access-date=2021-04-24|website=PenguinRandomhouse.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/adam-serwer/the-cruelty-is-the-point/|title=THE CRUELTY IS THE POINT {{!}} Kirkus Reviews|language=en}} The book was named to the New York Times Best Seller list. Kirkus reviewed it as "a strong contribution to conversations about racism, injustice, and violence, all of which continue to plague this country."{{Cite web|date=2021-05-18|title=The Cruelty Is the Point|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/adam-serwer/the-cruelty-is-the-point/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Kirkus}}

Personal life

Serwer is married.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AdamSerwer/status/1089243924030476288|title=I know I give the impression of being a cat bachelor but...no longer true! pic.twitter.com/Laj8r3ZNMn|last=Serwer|first=Adam|date=2019-01-26|website=@AdamSerwer|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508120841/https://twitter.com/AdamSerwer/status/1089243924030476288|url-status=live}} He and his wife have one daughter (b. 2019). He practices Judaism{{Cite web|url=https://www.momentmag.com/how-is-your-judaism-different-from-your-parents/|title=How Is Your Judaism Different From Your Parents'?|date=2019-03-20|website=Moment Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402045556/https://www.momentmag.com/how-is-your-judaism-different-from-your-parents/|url-status=live}} and lives in San Antonio, Texas. {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpFRN6DyJYI |title=Adam Serwer - Trump's MAGA Conspiracy Universe & Republican Snitch States {{!}} The Daily Show |date=2024-11-04 |last=The Daily Show |access-date=2024-11-10 |via=YouTube}}

He has multiple cats whom he frequently tweets about and refers to as "the Garfields" because they are all orange. A dog named Korra was added to the household in the spring of 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.letstalkaboutcats.com/ep-13-adam-serwer/|title=Adam Serwer - Let's Talk About Cats Podcast - Episode 13|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044600/https://www.letstalkaboutcats.com/ep-13-adam-serwer/|url-status=live}}

Works

= Books =

{{Cite book |last=Serwer |first=Adam |title=The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America |publisher=Penguin Random House |year=2021 |isbn=9780593230800}} 2019.

= Essays =

{{Cite web |last=Serwer |first=Adam |date=2017-06-04 |title=The Myth of the Kindly General Lee |work=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/the-myth-of-the-kindly-general-lee/529038/ |access-date=2020-08-12 |issn=1072-7825}}
{{Cite news |last=Serwer |first=Adam |date=2018-10-03 |title=The Cruelty Is the Point |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/the-cruelty-is-the-point/572104/ |access-date=2020-08-12 |work=The Atlantic}}
{{Cite web|last=Serwer|first=Adam|date=2019-11-27|title=The War-Crimes President|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/trump-war-crimes/602731/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=The Atlantic}}
{{Cite web|last=Serwer|first=Adam|date=May 13, 2020|title=Birtherism of a Nation|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/birtherism-and-trump/610978/|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=The Atlantic}}
{{Cite web|last=Serwer|first=Adam|date=July 18, 2020|title=John Lewis was an American Founder|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/how-john-lewis-founded-third-american-republic/614371/|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=The Atlantic}}
{{Cite web|last=Serwer|first=Adam|date=June 3, 2021|title=The Capitol Rioters Won|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/06/capitol-rioters-won/619075/|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=The Atlantic}}
Serwer, Adam (June 9, 2022). [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/06/police-gun-control-uvalde/661227/ "The One Group Who Could Make a Difference on Gun Control."] The Atlantic. Retrieved September 4, 2022
Serwer, Adam (July 23, 2022). [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/07/will-moore-vs-harper-help-republicans-rewrite-election-law/670544/ "Is Democracy Constitutional?"] The Atlantic. Retrieved September 4, 2022.

Accolades

2012 – Salute to Excellence Awards, Magazines - Commentary/Essay, "All the President's Frenemies," NABJ{{Cite web|url=http://www.nabj.org/|title=STEWinners2012 - National Association of Black Journalists|website=www.nabj.org|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405120525/https://www.nabj.org/|url-status=live}}
2012 – The Root 100, The Root{{Cite web|url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2012/media-types-make-rank-prominently-on-the-root-100-list/|title=MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry tops the 'Root 100′ list|date=2012-09-20|website=Poynter|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402050234/https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2012/media-types-make-rank-prominently-on-the-root-100-list/|url-status=live}}
2013 – The Root 100, The Root{{Cite web|url=https://onehundred.theroot.com/facewall/the-root-100-2013/|title=The Root 100 – 2013|date=2013-01-01|website=The Root|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402045108/https://onehundred.theroot.com/facewall/the-root-100-2013/|url-status=live}}
2015 – Sigma Delta Chi Award Honoree, Online Column Writing, "Race in America," Society of Professional Journalists{{Cite web|url=https://www.spj.org/sdxa15.asp|title=Sigma Delta Chi Awards - Society of Professional Journalists|website=www.spj.org|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-date=March 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326143812/https://www.spj.org/sdxa15.asp|url-status=live}}
2018 – The Root 100, Media, The Root
2019 – Spring Fellow, Shorenstein Center
2019 – Lipman Fellow, Columbia Journalism School{{Cite web|date=2019-05-13|title=The Columbia Journalism School Announces 2019 Lipman Fellows: Adam Serwer of The Atlantic and Alice Speri of The Intercept|url=https://journalism.columbia.edu/2019-Lipman-Fellows|website=Columbia Journalism School}}
2019 – Hillman Prize for Opinion & Analysis Journalism, Hillman Foundation
2019 – Forward 50, The Forward (2019){{cite web |title=Forward 50 {{!}} Adam Serwer: Voice of the devastated left |url=https://forward.com/culture/436702/forward-50-adam-serwer-voice-of-the-devastated-left/ |website=forward.com |date=December 20, 2019 |access-date=24 April 2021}}
2020 – Vernon Jarrett Medal, Morgan State University{{Cite web|last=Gipson|first=Abigail|date=2020-11-09|title=Errin Haines Awarded Vernon Jarrett Medal for Journalistic Excellence|url=https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/errin-haines-awarded-vernon-jarrett-medal-journalistic-excellence|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110131053/https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/errin-haines-awarded-vernon-jarrett-medal-journalistic-excellence|archive-date=November 10, 2020|access-date=2020-11-13|website=Pulitzer Center|language=en}}