Talk to Me: Lessons From A Family Forged By History
Talk To Me: Lessons From A Family Forged By History
Tuesday, Apr. 1st. | 12:00p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Political Science Village - University Hall
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Join us for an unforgettable afternoon with Rich Benjamin as he uncovers a family history shaped by political upheaval, migration, and resilience. His mother fled Haiti as a child after a U.S.-backed coup toppled her father—Haiti’s first true champion of the Black working class. But in their new American life, silence replaced the past. Talk to Me is Benjamin’s personal journey to break that silence, reconnect with his family’s untold story, and examine how history shapes identity. A gripping tale of survival, belonging, and the American experience, this is a conversation you would not want to miss.
His book has received high praise:
“A brilliant, absorbing book, a family story, a tale of power, exile, and calamity, a love letter to Benjamin’s mother that becomes a deep look into the darkness of Haitian history. And it’s also a no-holds-barred autobiography. I couldn’t stop reading.”
—Salman Rushdie, author of Knife"Unflinching...A poignant critique of America's impact on migrants and the enduring bonds of family."
—Oprah DailyCome, Listen and Be Inspired! This event is co-sponsored by the Sociology Department and the International Relation and Political Science, International Relations Program.
Rich Benjamin is a cultural anthropologist and the author of Searching for Whitopia. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and elsewhere, and he's appeared as commentator on MSNBC and CNN. His work has received support from the Bellagio Center, the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Columbia Law School, the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, the Ford Foundation, Princeton University, The Rockefeller Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, and the Harvard Radcliffe Insurance.