The Great Refusal

In the spirit of American cultural prophecy—from Ta-Nehisi Coates to Rebecca Solnit—acclaimed writer Casey Gerald offers a groundbreaking work of joyous dissent and stunning vision, a survival guide to a society in crisis.

Most afternoons for the past three years, Casey Gerald took a walk. He would pass the compound that Elon Musk was building in his neighborhood; the burned-down Freedman’s church; the little house where he and his lover Jack had seen a shooting star. He knew the world was crumbling, but he didn’t fret. He had been promised: When it breaks, you’ll be ready. 

“There is a great unfolding going on,” Gerald writes, “and all the clues for what’s to come are planted in the people.” In this quietly redemptive and lyrical book, Gerald shares his map for finding those clues, finding each other, and finding our way out of this dark and wearied time. On the other side of No, Gerald insists, there is a Yes—an embrace of what we really want, what we might finally claim once we refuse. 

Calling forth a kaleidoscopic cast, from Odysseus to D’Angelo, Sun Tzu to Simone Biles, Black literati and desert mystics, Gerald implores us to take our power back and to remake the world together, on our terms. Written with Didion’s cold eye and Baldwin’s unflinching urgency, and with the dark humor of a man who’s seen too much but still wants to see what’s next, The Great Refusal is a lifeline from the other side of ruin.

This event is free with first come, first serve seating. To request accommodations for this event or to inquire about accessibility please email [email protected] ideally one week in advance of the event date. 

Editorial disclosure: The views expressed in this book and event are solely those of the author and speakers. They do not reflect the views of New America, its staff, fellows, funders, or board of directors.

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