Washington, D.C. — Clarence B. Jones’ new book, Last of the Lions: An African American Journey in Memoir, is two histories woven into one remarkable story, both personal and national. By exploring the evocative life of Clarence B. Jones, from his depression- and segregation-era upbringing at the hands of caring Irish Catholic nuns through his Ivy League years, his unprecedented dual role as simultaneous military draftee and protester, and his work as an entertainment lawyer, financial and media entrepreneur, and more, Last of the Lions weaves the story of America’s relationship with its Black citizenry and the sea change they have experienced in the past century. Jones acts as the bridge from one America to another—spanning poverty and prosperity, injustice and acceptance, Harlem and Wall Street, and even the militant underpinnings of the Black Nation of Islam and the Gandhian philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
His story is the connective tissue that clarifies our past, explains our present, and points the way to the future. Jones suffered the iniquities, fought the battles, and, unlike so many, lived to see both the fruits of his labor and its failings.
A reception will follow the conversation, and copies of Last of the Lions: An African American Journey in Memoir will be available for purchase for in-person attendees.
WHO:
Clarence B. Jones, Author of Last of the Lions: An African American Journey in Memoir, Lawyer, and Activist
Patrick Gaspard, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
WHEN:
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. ET
WHERE:
In person:
1333 H Street NW, first floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
To attend in person, please RSVP at this link.
Online:
To join our online audience, you must RSVP at this link.
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Julia Cusick at [email protected].