The War on DEI: Where Do We Go From Here? | Busboys and Poets

In celebration of the 20 year anniversary of Busboys and Poets, Tim Wise is joining us on the Langston Hughes stage to dive deeper into the growing attacks on DEI and explore a path forward. Copies of his book Under the Affluence: Shaming the Poor, Praising the Rich and Sacrificing the Future of America will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Wise will be signing following the program.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. UNDER THE AFFLUENCE will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person.

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books

Tim Wise is one of the country’s most compelling voices on culture, politics, and power, bringing three decades of experience to some of the most urgent issues of our time. A gifted storyteller and sharp strategist, he helps audiences understand how we got here, what’s at stake, and how to move forward with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Wise has spoken at more than 1,700 college campuses and hundreds of conferences, nonprofits, and leadership summits, reaching audiences across education, business, law, public service, and media. His talks offer not only historical insight and sharp analysis, but also concrete strategies for shifting institutional culture and navigating today’s polarized climate.

He is the author of nine books, including Dispatches from the Race War, Under the Affluence, Dear White America, and the acclaimed memoir White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son. His work has appeared in Salon, The Root, HuffPost, and numerous anthologies, and is widely used in classrooms and professional training programs.

Wise is a frequent commentator on CNN and MSNBC and has appeared in several documentaries, including White Like Me, The Great White Hoax, and Vocabulary of Change with Angela Davis. He began his career organizing against the political rise of white nationalism in Louisiana, later advising Fisk University’s Race Relations Institute and training professionals across sectors.

He currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the African American Policy Forum, contributing to public education and strategic dialogue on racial justice and intersectionality.

Whether speaking to educators, students, civic leaders, or executives, Tim Wise offers a compelling voice for truth-telling, bridge-building, and institutional transformation in a time that demands nothing less.

BOOK DETAILS

Under the Affluence

Shaming the Poor, Praising the Rich and Sacrificing the Future of America

By Tim Wise

October 13, 2015 | Paperback, 360 pages, $16.95

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