Ta-Nehisi Coates, noted journalist and author of the popular book Between the World and Me, won big at this year's National Book Awards.

Coates's second book, which focuses a lens on policing in America and reparations, garnered him the National Book Award for Non-Fiction at this year's ceremony.

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Coates dedicated the award to his friend Prince Jones, who was murdered by police in a case of mistaken identity. The cop was never charged.

The book takes a look at the world through that very daunting scope. "Between the World and Me comes out of that place," Coates said. "Every day you turn on the TV and you see some sort of violence being directed at Black people."

Coates attended Howard University and has contributed to a host of publications, including The Atlantic, O, The Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine and more.

Most recently, Ta-Nehisi was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant for his groundbreaking work.

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(Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for The New Yorker)