Kiese Laymon: Heavy

Kiese Laymon is a fearless writer. In his powerful and provocative memoir, Heavy, the genre-bending essayist and novelist explores what the weight of a lifetime of secrets, lies, and deception does to a black body, a black family, and a nation teetering on the brink of moral collapse. Moving from his early experiences of sexual violence, to his suspension from college, to his trek to New York as a young college professor, Laymon charts his complex relationship with his mother, grandmother, anorexia, obesity, sex, writing, and ultimately gambling. By attempting to name secrets and lies he and his mother spent a lifetime avoiding, Laymon confronts the terrifying possibility that few in this nation actually know how to responsibly love, and even fewer want to live under the weight of actually becoming free.

This program is presented in partnership with the Center for the Study of Race, Politics & Culture at the University of Chicago.

This program was recorded on November 3, 2018.

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