‘Poverty, by America’ — Conversations Read & Reflect Discussion Group (Virtual)

Registration Required

Read and Reflect Discussion Group is part of the Conversations: Truth, Myth & Democracy Series

Join us for our next Read and Reflect virtual session, where we’ll reflect on Paul Desmond’s latest best-selling work, Poverty, By America, which explores the persistence of poverty in the United States.

According to a New York Times review, this Pulitzer-Prize winning author documents levels of personal agency — corporate and individual — that are the root causes of income disparity. The opening sentence asks: “Why is there so much poverty in America?” This highly readable text, not loaded with technical jargon, provides a sobering response to that question.

Participants are encouraged to work through the following prompts in advance of our discussion:

• “There is a genius for impoverishment always at work in the world.”
– Marilynne Robinson, What Are We Doing Here?

• Has some unidentified authority set in motion the spread of ignorance regarding the
study of American history?

• In this hectic, topsy-turvy world, how do we pay attention to essential matters?

• “Grandfather’s been dead all these years…’I hate a Roman named Status Quo!’ he said to me.”
— Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Copies of the book are available at the Library. Our virtual discussion will be moderated by Tom Kilbourn, ordained Episcopal priest and retired JBHS English Teacher.

Register below to receive a Zoom link on the morning of the program and include a cell number for a text reminder.

This discussion is part of the Conversations Series, created in partnership by the Redding League of Women Voters and the Mark Twain Library. This award-winning series offers opportunities to continue and expand conversations on race, justice and democracy. Community members can exchange ideas, hear differing perspectives and talk about our ever-evolving democracy.