Jhumpa Lahiri Rejects Noguchi Museum Award Over Political Dress Ban

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has declined the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award from the Noguchi Museum in Queens as a protest against the museum’s recent firing of three employees who wore kaffiyehs to show solidarity with Palestinians. The museum had updated its dress code policy to prohibit political expressions in clothing, prompting significant backlash from the staff.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the museum acknowledged Lahiri’s decision, stating, “We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyone’s views.” They emphasized their commitment to promoting Isamu Noguchi’s art and maintaining values of inclusivity and openness.

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The Noguchi Museum, established nearly 40 years ago by the Japanese American artist and designer Isamu Noguchi, announced last month that staff members are not allowed to wear attire that displays political messages during working hours. This policy was implemented after several employees wore kaffiyehs—scarves often associated with Palestinian culture—sparking controversy.

The museum defended the policy by claiming that such expressions could alienate portions of its diverse audience. A majority of staff had signed a petition against the dress code change.

Lahiri, alongside Korean minimalist artist Lee Ufan, was set to receive the Isamu Noguchi Award at the museum’s fall benefit gala next month. Born in London to Indian immigrants, Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 for her debut collection, “Interpreter of Maladies,” and has authored numerous works in both English and Italian. She also directs the creative writing program at Barnard College.

The ongoing conflict surrounding how to express support for Israelis or Palestinians has created divisions within cultural institutions since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and the taking of approximately 250 hostages. In response, Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip have led to over 41,000 reported fatalities, according to local health officials.

Lahiri was one of thousands of scholars who signed a letter to university presidents in May expressing solidarity with campus protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, calling it “unspeakable destruction”.

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