In February, the Los Angeles Times launched a new initiative,“Publisher’s Book Club,” which aims to engage with the community through reading. Every month or so, the publisher selects a book and invites the public to join him in reading it. Later, readers can convene at an in-person event to hear from the author, discuss the book with a panel, and use the book as a jumping off place for a broader conversation.
The Publisher’s Book Club’s latest book is “Finding Samuel Lowe” by Paula Madison, retired NBC executive and Vice President of the Los Angeles Police Commission. The book is a powerful story of one woman’s journey to find her heritage and identity, and chronicles Ms. Madison’s pursuit of her long-lost grandfather, the exploration of her Jamaican and Chinese roots, and her dream to know her family.
As our nation grapples with clashing identities and cultures – be it over immigration policies or the #blacklivesmatter movement – this topic is timely and important.
It is especially relevant for Los Angeles, a city where the world comes to see its future. Although the city was founded under the Spanish flag and drew its settlers from nearby provinces in Mexico, the initial group of settlers, Los Pobladores, exemplified the diversity which is our hallmark.
Jose Antonio Vargas will be interviewing the author, and the topics will likely extend beyond the book and into some of the present day struggles we are facing as a country. Jose, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, came out as undocumented in the New York Times four years ago. The conversation should no doubt be very interesting and informative.
You can find more info on the event and the book here. Space is limited, so RSVP today!
Date: Tuesday, July 14
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
125 Paseo De La Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012
