Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson is a nationally acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and highly sought-after speaker, whose insightful work has changed how an entire country understands its history.  A leading light in uncertain times, Wilkerson is the author of the critically acclaimed New York Times bestsellers The Warmth of Other Suns and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.

In her work, Wilkerson draws a direct link between the leaderless revolution known as the Great Migration and modern movements for social justice, both of which are responses to unaddressed history and inequalities in America. Her gift for storytelling captivates audiences with the universal human story of migration and reinvention, as well as the unseen hierarchies that have divided our nation. Wilkerson empowers audiences to be courageous citizens, lead their communities with empathy, and embrace their capacity for change with optimism and resolve.

Her latest book, Caste, became a New York Times bestseller and was named Nonfiction Book of the Year by Time Magazine. Oprah Winfrey declared it the most important book she had ever selected when she chose it for her summer book club. Caste examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how a hierarchy of division still defines our lives today. 

With the generous support from local leaders, organizations, and individuals, MBT is proud to bring Isabel Wilkerson to Bellingham for a very special event. The Urgency of Radical Empathy will address current events and explore how both individuals and communities can support disenfranchised and marginalized communities and find hope in our shared humanity. The evening will include a 45-minute lecture, audience Q&A, and book signing. 

Moderated by Marcus Harrison Green

Marcus Harrison Green is a storyteller, truth-seeker, and advocate for narratives that reflect the full depth of marginalized communities. As the publisher of Hinton Publishing, Founder of the South Seattle Emerald, a columnist for The Stranger,  and the cohost of the In The Meanwhile podcast, he has dedicated his life to reshaping the way stories are told about Black and brown communities. Born and raised in South Seattle, Marcus grew up witnessing the power— and the harm—of one-dimensional storytelling. He saw how communities like his were flattened into stereotypes, their voices lost in the margins. 

 After an unfulfilling stint in the investment world, he walked away from corporate life with a renewed sense of purpose: to amplify the voices too often neglected and tell stories with the nuance, complexity, and humanity they deserve. That mission led him to found the South Seattle Emerald, a platform committed to journalism that is unapologetically community centered. As an award-winning journalist, Marcus has earned recognition for his fearless reporting and commitment to justice. He was named the Seattle Human Rights Commission’s “Individual Human Rights Leader” of 2020 and honored as the Northwest African American Museum’s inaugural James Baldwin Fellow in 2022. Through his writing and leadership, Marcus continues to challenge dominant narratives, uplift the voices of his people, and push journalism toward a more just and authentic future.