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.