DERAY MCKESSON
DERAY MCKESSON
Event Information
Literary Arts welcomes internationally recognized civil rights leader DeRay Mckesson to Portland to celebrate his forthcoming book, On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope(publication date September 4). As a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter movement, co-founder of Campaign Zero, and host of the wildly popular podcast Pod Save the People, Mckesson is at the forefront of progressive activism around social justice.
Join Mckesson for a timely conversation on culture, social justice, and politics. Drawing from his own experiences as an organizer, educator, and public official, Mckesson will explore the issues of the day and discuss the subtle structures and inherent biases that impact our communities. The conversation will also examine the core themes of Mckesson’s upcoming first book, On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope, a meditation on resistance, justice, and freedom, and an intimate portrait of the Black Lives Matter movement from the front lines. Mckesson will be joined by special guests for a live, no-holds-barred conversation about inclusion, community, and progress designed to empower a new generation of leaders. Each $40 ticket includes a copy of On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope by DeRay Mckesson (a $25 value), placed at your seat.
DeRay Mckesson is a civil rights activist, community organizer, and the host of Crooked Media’s podcast, Pod Save the People. He started his career as an educator and came to prominence for his role in documenting the Ferguson protests and the movement they birthed and for publicly advocating for justice and accountability for the victims of police violence and the end of mass incarceration. He’s spoken at venues from the White House to the Oxford Union and universities and appeared on TV shows across the political spectrum. He was named #11 on Fortune’s World’s Greatest Leaders list and Harvard’s Black Man of the Year in 2016, among his many other accolades. A leading voice in the Black Lives Matter movement and the co-founder of Campaign Zero, a policy platform to end police violence, he lives in Baltimore, Maryland. On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope is his first book.
Special thanks to our event sponsor Meyer Memorial Trust and our community partners Portland State University and Self Enhancement, Inc.