Origins & Early Life

Junot Díaz ( JOO-noh; born December 31, 1968) is a Dominican American writer, creative writing professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a former fiction editor at Boston Review. Central to Díaz's work is the immigrant experience, particularly the Latino immigrant experience. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Díaz migrated with his family to New Jersey when he was six years old. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University, and shortly after graduating created the character "Yunior", who served as narrator of several of his later books.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After obtaining his MFA from Cornell University, Díaz published his first book, the 1995 short story collection Drown. Diaz received the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and received a MacArthur Fellowship "Genius Grant" in 2012. Díaz was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on December 31, 1968, to Rafael and Virtudes Díaz. He was the third child among seven siblings. Throughout most of his early childhood, he lived with his mother and grandparents while his father worked in the United States.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In December 1974 he migrated to Parlin, New Jersey...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ajay Devgn — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): Veteran Indian actor and filmmaker known for diverse roles in Hindi cinema.
• Alexander Gettler — Contemporary (Died in 1968) (1968): Pioneering American forensic toxicologist and father of modern medicolegal investigation.
• Alfredo Reinado — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): East Timorese military commander and rebel leader during the 2006 crisis.
• Aleksandr Popov (physicist) — Shared historical date (12-31 · Died) (1905): Pioneering Russian physicist credited with early radio receiving technology.
• Andreas Vesalius — Shared historical date (12-31 · Born) (1514): Founder of modern human anatomy, revolutionized medical science with detailed publications.
• Anastacia — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): American singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and 'sprock' fusion.
• Barry Sanders — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): Elite NFL running back known for unmatched elusiveness and record-breaking college performance.
• Adolfo Pedernera — Historical peer (Died in 1995) (1995): Argentine football legend, nicknamed 'El Maestro,' pivotal in the 1940s.
• Alexander Knox — Historical peer (Died in 1995) (1995): Esteemed Canadian actor and writer, known for dramatic roles and literary contributions.
• Albert Hofmann — Historical peer (Died in 2008) (2008): Swiss chemist renowned for synthesizing LSD and pioneering psychedelic research.
• 1968 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1968
• December 31 (12-31) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 31