THE LAST PLANTATION | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation
Date and Time
Jun 13, 2024 5:30 pm
Location
450K
450 K St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
Jun 13, 2024 5:30 pm
450K
Racism continues to infuse Congress’s daily practice of lawmaking and shape who obtains congressional employment. In this timely and provocative book, James Jones reveals how and why many who work in Congress call it the “Last Plantation.” He shows that even as the civil rights movement gained momentum in the 1960s and antidiscrimination laws were implemented across the nation, Congress remained exempt from federal workplace protections for decades. These exemptions institutionalized inequality in the congressional workplace well into the twenty-first century.
Combining groundbreaking research and compelling firsthand accounts from scores of congressional staffers, Jones uncovers the hidden dynamics of power, privilege, and resistance in Congress. He reveals how failures of racial representation among congressional staffers reverberate throughout the American political system and demonstrates how the absence of diverse perspectives hampers the creation of just legislation. Centering the experiences of Black workers within this complex landscape, he provides valuable insights into the problems they face, the barriers that hinder their progress, and the ways they contest entrenched inequality.
A must-read for anyone concerned about social justice and the future of our democracy, THE LAST PLANTATION exposes the mechanisms that perpetuate racial inequality in the halls of Congress and challenges us to confront and transform this unequal workplace that shapes our politics and society.
James R. Jones is joining us on the Busboys stage alongside Congresswoman Lauren Underwood to share their knowledge and experiences of racial barriers in Congress, the ways people have fought against them, and how we can move toward a more just political landscape . Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Jones will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 5:30 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of THE LAST PLANTATION will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will not be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
James R. Jones is assistant professor of Africana studies and sociology and director of the Center for Politics and Race in America at Rutgers University, Newark.
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood serves Illinois’ 14th Congressional District and was first sworn into Congress on January 3, 2019. She is the first woman, the first person of color, and the first millennial to represent her community in Congress. Rep. Underwood is a registered nurse and co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, which addresses America’s Black Maternal Health crisis in Congress and advances policy solutions to improve maternal health outcomes and end disparities. Rep. Underwood is Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee and serves on the House Committee on Appropriations.
