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ALBC Town Hall – Chicago, IL
“Our Histories, Our Stories: A conversation with
Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr and Rick Kogan
June 29, 2009

Chicago Public Library
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
400 S. State St.,
Chicago, IL 60605

The Chicago town hall explored the connection between history, personal stories and our perspectives on race in America.  Professor Gates’ conversation with Rick Kogan sought to better understand how the stories we tell shape history, and how history shapes the stories we tell?

Dr. Henry Louis “Skip” Gates’ work has encouraged people from all walks of life to explore their unique personal stories, and the impact of those stories on national history. In many ways his most recent film, “Looking for Lincoln”, compares what we know about Lincoln and his era with the stories we’ve told and continue to tell about him.  Gates searches for the truth.  His most recent book is “Lincoln on Race and Slavery,” described as “the first complete collection of Lincoln’s important writings on both race and slavery.”

Rick Kogan is one of Chicago’s most respected writers and interviewers. The son of legendary newspaperman and author Herman Kogan, Rick has earned a stellar reputation of his own. He is the host of WGN-AM’s “Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan” (6:30-9 a.m. Sundays), and a senior writer and Sidewalks columnist for the Chicago Tribune’s Sunday magazine. Kogan is also the author or co-author of several books, including the crime novel “Everybody Pays,” and “America’s Mom: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Ann Landers.”

The ALBC Town Hall Series is made possible with support from the Fetzer Institute.

 

Chicago Town Hall Co-Conveners

The ALBC would like to thank the following co-conveners for their support in making the Chicago town hall a success.