Opportunity for the nation to imagine itself otherwise. Where the country had an opportunity to leave behind the realitycynd how to organize our society and that each of those moments the country double down. And we saw was some call a backlash. We saw instead was an ongoing betrayal. What we think about the post reconstruction. And a lost cause and that anglosaxon and what it meant for the United States and the world as a betrayal. Think the mid 20th century the black freedom movement, law and order and the tax revolt in california, we need double down on our ugliness and here we are facing a chance to we imagine ourselves. If our history is any indicatio indication. Has there been an arc of progress . Of course. My life is not what my fathers life was and his life is not his fatherss. So what does it mean to suggest we live in the afterlife of jim crow is to suggest there has been and indication of change and i think one way is look at American History ofan democracy in the believe t
You here tonight on the second letter on the Supreme Court. Were very privileged tonight to have as our host, Justice Kagan. She will be introducing our distinguished speaker very shortly. Let me just tell you a few things about Justice Kagan you may or may not know already. Born in new york, raised in new york, educated at princeton, oxford, and Harvard Law School. Then came a clerk to judge abner mikvah on the d. C. Circuit judge, followed by a clerkship with Justice Thurgood marshall here on the Supreme Court. And a couple years of law practice, then in 1991, entering academia, teaching at the university of chicago law school, where she met professor barack obama. Two years later, invited back to washington tow ork to work for the Senate Judiciary committee at the request of the chairman, then senator joe biden. Two years later, judge mikvah becomes white House Counsel for president clinton. Justice kagan is asked to come to the white house, serve as associate white House Counsel. S
We also want to thank all of you for your support and for our community of booklovers and friends we wouldnt be here today. Tonight we are excited to have with us tara burton who is celebrating the recent release of her new book strange rights, new religions for a godless world. Is contributing editor at the american interest, at columnist at Religion News service and the former staff and religion reporter. She has written on religion and Secular National geographics, Washington Post , New York Times and more and holds a doctorate in theology from oxford. Shes also author of the novel social creature. Joining tara to discuss her new book is ross douthat, columnist for the New York Times oped page and offer up to change the church, bad religion and privileged and coauthor of brandnew party. Before joining New York Times was a Senior Editor for the atlantic. These film critic for National Review and he cohosts the New York Times weekly oped paul podcast. He lives in new haven with his wi
Years now run by thirdgeneration and thank you all for your support authors and book lovers and tonight we are excited to have with us in new religions for those world. And as in the former staff writing on religion with National Geographic and the Washington Post the New York Times and a doctorate in theology from oxford also author social creature. The author to change a church bad religion in privilege and the for joining the New York Times the Senior Editor for the atlantic for National Review and the New York Times weekly oped podcast. Living in new haven with his wife and three children. Please join me to welcome our gas. Thank you so much. Thank you for joining us at this exciting virtual experience in this way of talking about a book with the subject matter. Thank you for letting me interrogate you. A typical thursday night. I just want to make two comments. First in the era of coalbed i have done enough zoom events to know sometimes people are more hesitant to ask questions an
Its my honor to introduce three people to you this evening. First is Roger Rosenblatt whose work has been published in 14 languages. Roger is the author of five New York Times notable books of the year and three times bestseller. The story the story i am mad about the writing life came out in april and a cool moon a life love and responsibility will be in october. Rogers written seven off broadway plays notably the one person free speech in america that he performed at the American Theater which was the times 10 best plays of 1991. Last spring he performed them play piano in his play living in the basement is nothing which would go to the Stoller Center for the arts at stony brook and the theater in new york next year. He also wrote the screenplay for a bestselling novel rapid rising which is currently in production. Roger is distinguished repressor at english and writing at stony brook. He formerly held the copeland appointment to creative writing at harvard where he got his ph. D. Am