Dialogs: CHF Panel Explores Racist Corners of American History in What’s Next: Wealth, Property and Inequality
Reported by C.E. Archer-Helke In a Chicago Humanities Festival panel moderated by Chicago journalist Natalie Moore, economist William Darity, legal scholar Matthew L.M. Fletcher, and historian Rebecca K. Marchiel brought […]
Dialogs: Ayad Akhtar’s Homeland Elegies Reflects on Dreams of American Identity
Ayad Akhtar’s new novel, Homeland Elegies, begins like a memoir. Written in the first person, it’s about the narrator’s Pakistani immigrant father who believes in the American dream. Father was […]
Dialogs: Two Screenwriters Talk About Their New Novels—Utopia Avenue and Antkind
It was just serendipity that the Chicago Humanities Festival scheduled two screenwriters with hot new novels two weeks in a row for their livestream show. Well, serendipity and the fact […]
Political Coverage Has Turned Into Theater Reviews, CBS’ John Dickerson Says in CHF Event
The news media could enhance the work of a President in the White House by asking the right questions during the campaign, John Dickerson, CBS “60 Minutes” correspondent, said during […]
Historian Adam Hochschild on Activist Rose Pastor Stokes in Humanities Festival Event
Rose Pastor Stokes was born poor, married rich and became an activist and agitator most of us have never heard of. Historian Adam Hochschild tells her story in his new […]
Review: Sarah Vowell’s Acerbic “Past and Present” Closes Chicago Humanities Festival
Narrative nonfiction titan Sarah Vowell closed the diverse and well-curated Chicago Humanities Festival’s 30th anniversary “Power” juggernaut Sunday at Francis W. Parker School in Lincoln Park, showcasing her acerbic wit […]
George R.R. Martin Discusses Influences, Inclusion & Diversity in Sci-Fi/Fantasy at Humanities Festival
Commencing last week with journalist and author Ta-Nehisi Coates, the Chicago Humanities Festival continues to celebrate its 30th anniversary in full force with acclaimed author George R.R. Martin being the […]
Ta-Nehisi Coates Brilliantly Inaugurates the 30th Chicago Humanities Festival
MacArthur Fellow (genius award) writer Ta-Nehisi Coates launched the Chicago Humanities Festival’s impressive 30th anniversary “Power” season with an engaging and lively discussion on October 2 at UIC’s Dorin Forum. […]
340 Days Spent 250 Miles Above Earth: Astronaut Scott Kelly Shares Lessons at Chicago Humanities Festival
When former astronaut Captain Scott Kelly took his first flying test for the U.S. Navy, he nearly crashed when he landed. His instructor asked, “are you sure this is a […]
Roxane Gay, Camille Paglia and Jessa Crispin at War in My Head
Several weeks ago, I went to hear Roxane Gay read from her latest book Hunger as a part of the Chicago Humanities Festival Now summer programming. The event fell on […]
George Saunders, Pop Culture Phenom, Comes to Chicago
I’ve liked George Saunders’ since I read his short story collection Pastoralia as a freshman in college. I’d never read anything like it. There was a historical re-enactment theme park, […]
Trevor Noah on His Mother and Donald Trump in Discussion at the Music Box
The last day of the Chicago Humanities Festival ended at the Music Box Theatre with a discussion between the “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah and the editor of his memoir, Chris Jackson. […]