State of Society Report from William "Upski" Wimsatt
Sunday, January 25, 2009 @ 7 p.m., doors at 6 p.m.
Following the day's free "Winter Block Party," join us in the evening for the main event, when former graffiti-writer, turned writer/publisher, turned activist/organizer, turned institution builder, Chicago-born William "Upski" Wimsatt gives us his own State of Society Report, which he's titled: "Movement-Building in the Age of Obama - An Evening of Stories, Strategies and Straight Talk."
Wimsatt has spent the last 20 years building a youth movement in the United States, and is seen by many today as a grandfather to youth political organizing... at the ripe old age of 36. Wimsatt is one of his generation's gratest political organizers and most original literary figures.
Currently writing his sixth book - which he says is a personal history of America's cultural and political movements from 1984-2009 that "aims to solve the mystery of what happened to his generation?, what happened to the hip-hop kids of the 1980's and 90's?, the bandana-wearing kids who shut down the WTO in Seattle?, and the flag-waving kids who cut school to march for immigration?"- this special night will be a sneak peak to what Wimsatt has discovered and some insight into the trends shaping our world today.
After his talk, Wimsatt will be joined on stage by Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Kogan to talk about politics, art and the public square - then take questions from you!
Featuring music by DJ Itch13 and performances by Kevin Coval, Idris Goodwin, and Deja Taylor, plus see the unveiling of an original piece painted live at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater during the day's "Winter Block Party" by Revise CMW.
William "Upski" Wimsatt
A lover of cities and civic life, Wimsatt became one of Chicago's most infamous graffiti writers as a young teenager. After deciding that writing his name on things wasn't the best way to honor his community, he began publishing a broad sheet newspaper which was posted on Chicago's bus and train lines. At age 16, he became a columnist for the Source magazine. A reporter and essayist, he has written for dozens of publications including: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, Vibe, XXL, and Utne Reader.
Wimsatt's first book, Bomb the Suburbs: Graffiti, Freight-hopping, Race, and the Search for Hip-hop's Moral Center (1994) has sold more than 25,000 copies. Today Wimsatt is the founder of the League of Pissed Off Voters/League of Young Voters, organizing for the 2008 election. Along with editing the 2003 Future 500: Youth Activism in the United States book, in 2004 Wismatt co-edited How To Get Stupid White Men Out Of Office, a collection of essays from youth election organizers around the world.
Rick Kogan
Rick Kogan is senior writer and “Sidewalks” columnist for the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine, and hosts WGN's "Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan." A newspaper man since age 16, he joined the Chicago Tribune in the 1980s where he was TV critic for five years and later the editor of Tempo, the Tribune's daily feature section. A captivating storyteller, Kogan has written ten books, including two published in 2006: A Chicago Tavern: A Goat, A Curse and the American Dream and Sidewalks: Portraits of Chicago.
Venue
Victory Gardens Biograph Theater
2433 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
Presenter
Chicago Public Radio
312-948-4600
Tickets
$15/general admission
$12/Chicago Public Radio members
$12/Victory Gardens subscribers
$10/students (with ID)
Tickets are no longer available online but can be purchased at the door. CASH ONLY.
This event is sponsored in part by:
This event is sponsored in part by:
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