Rich Benjamin

Events & Speaking

Areas of Expertise: Whites, money, class, the American Dream, the economy, social relations, Trump’s ascendancy and politics, global center-right populism, space & place, lifestyle & living, cities & suburbs, demographics, Western cultural anxiety, Latinos, the Gays, and our demographic future.

  • Blue Sky Institute 9th Annual DEI Summit

    Keynote: “Cities of Tomorrow: Treasuring Difference, Getting Present, Succeeding Ahead”
    Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 2pm
    JUMP | Boise State University
    Boise, Idaho

  • The Anschutz Lecture, Princeton University

    “Talk to Me: A Story of Racial Capitalism, Coup, and Democracy”
    Talk | Q & A
    Friday, April 13, 2023 4:30pm
    Princeton, NJ

  • Raue Center for the Arts

    “The Divided States of America: Small Towns, Big National Transformations”
    Talk | Q & A
    Friday, October 14, 2022, 7pm
    Crystal Lake, Illinois

  • Princeton University


    Constitution Anniversary Event:

    “Citizenship and Its Discontents in Our Evolving Democratic Republic”
    Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 4:30pm
    Effron Center for the Study of America

  • Yale University

    Poynter Lecture: “Whiteness, Conservatism, and Democracy in the Digital Age”
    Monday, March 17, 2021, 12pm
    Virtual Lecture

  • South Puget Sound Community College

    Keynote: “Dr. King and the More Perfect Union”
    Monday, January 20, 2020, 7pm
    Minneart Center for the Arts
    Olympia, WA

  • “Think & Drink: A Conversation w/ Rich Benjamin”

    Oregon Council for the Humanities | Deschutes Public Library
    Monday, October 21, 2019, 7PM
    10 Barrel Brewing
    62950 NE 18th Street
    Bend, OR

  • Oregon State University, Cascades

    Keynote: “What’s Race Got to Do With It?”
    Monday, October 21, 2019, Noon
    OSU, Obsidian Hall
    Bend, OR

  • Opportunity 2020: The Way to Win

    Keynote: “I Am, Because of You: A Vision and Politics for 2020”
    Monday, June 17, 2019, 7pm
    Sponsored by Third Way
    Charleston Gaillard Center
    Charleston, SC

  • TECHONOMY 2019

    “Interview: Democratic Presidential Candidates”
    Wednesday, May 15, 2019, 12pm
    Convene Center
    New York, NY

  • The Museum of Modern Art

    Presentation: “The White Male”
    Monday, March 25, 2019, 7pm
    Celeste Bartos Theatre
    New York, NY

  • Indiana Wesleyan University MLK

    Keynote: King and The More Perfect Union”
    Friday, January 18, 2019, 7pm
    Phillippe Performing Arts Center
    Marion, IN

  • Non-Profits and the Call to Moral Leadership

    Presentation: “Toward a Beloved Community: Non-Profits, Everyday Whiteness, and Confronting Rightwing Terror”
    November 14, 2018
    Private Reflection/Convening
    Pittsburgh, PA

  • TECHONOMY 2018

    “Post-Midterm Election Townhall”
    Sunday, November 11, 2018, 5:30pm
    Ritz-Carlton
    Half Moon Bay, CA

  • Book Expo 2018

    Live Podcast Panel: “But That’s Another Story”
    Co-Panelists: Bestselling Authors Will Schwalbe, Leigh Bardugo, and Wayétu Moore
    Tues, May 31, 2018, 5:15pm
    Jacob Jatiz Center, Downtown Stage
    New Yor, NY

  • Techonomy 2018

    Moderator: “Creating a More Equitable Workplace”
    Panelists: Maggie Chan Jones, Sarah Gerber, & Gina Hadley
    Tues, May 8, 2018, 2pm
    117 W. 46th Street
    New Yor, NY

  • Elon University

    Keynote: “Whitopia: Our Culture, Politics, and Disruption”
    September 26, 2017
    Whitley Auditorium
    106 E. Lebanon Avenue
    Elon, NC

  • My City Summit, 2017

    Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana
    Keynote: “The Color of Tomorrow: Economic Development & Community Inclusion in the Age of Trump”
    January 24, 2017
    University of St. Francis Performing Arts Center
    Fort Wayne, IN

  • “MEN OF LETTERS: The Woman Who Changed My Life”

    Co-Performers: Josh Radnor (Star/Director, “How I Met Your Mother”), Ben Sinclair (Star/Producer, “High Maintenance”), Julio Torres (comedian/space prince)
    July 14, 2016, 9pm
    Joe’s Pub, The Public Theatre
    425 Lafayette Street
    New York, NY

  • 2016 Fair Housing Conference

    Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan
    Keynote: “How We Live Now: Society and Our Community Designs”
    April 29, 2016
    Fetzer Center
    Kalamazoo, MI

  • “20/20: The Future in Focus”

    Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies, 2016 Conference
    Keynote: “Latinos, Whites, and America’s Social Future”
    April 20, 2016, 11:30am
    Nobu Eden Rock
    Miami, FL

  • Association of California Community College Administrators

    Keynote: “Mission Possible: Initiate, Innovate, Integrate”
    February 18, 2016, Noon-2pm
    Riverside Convention Center
    Riverside, CA

  • Ripon College

    Keynote: “Economic Progress: 2016”
    January 26, 2016, 7-8:30pm
    Great Hall, Harwood Memorial Union
    Ripon, WI

  • Brooklyn Book Festival 2015

    Moderator: “Writing About Place in the Age of the Global City”
    Panelists: Luc Sante, Vivian Gornick, David Ulin
    Sun, Sep 20, 2015, 2pm
    Brooklyn Law School Moot Court Room
    250 Joralemon Street
    Brooklyn, NY

  • TEDWomen 2015

    May 27 – 29, 2015
    Monterey, CA

  • Evergreen State College

    Keynote: “Day of Absence, Day of Presence”
    April 10, 2015, 1pm
    Olympia, WA

  • Borough of Manhattan Community College

    Keynote: “Inequality Forum”
    February 18, 2015, 12-2pm
    New York, NY

  • “Losing Our Way”: An Evening with Bob Herbert and Lesley Stahl

    Emcee: Rich Benjamin
    Wed, October 15, 2014, 7pm
    NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
    New York, NY

  • City College, New York. Powell School of Civic and Global Leadership

    Keynote: Powell Fellows’ Graduating Ceremony
    Tues, May 9, 2014, 5pm
    New York, NY

  • Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity

    Sat, April 26, 2014, 9am
    Debate: “What’s Really in the US Best Interest?”
    Debaters: Rich Benjamin, Stephen Moore (Chief Economist, Heritage Foundation), Don Watkins (Fellow, Ayn Rand Institute)
    Kingston, RI

  • Progressive US Congress Strategy Summit

    Fri, February 14, 2014, 11am
    Panel: “What the Right Gets Right”
    Panelists: Rich Benjamin, Thomas Frank, Rick Perlstein
    Moderator: Rep. Gwen Moore (D, WI)
    Philadelphia, PA

  • Chicago Ideas Week 2013

    Wed, Oct 17, 2013, 3-4pm
    “Great Debate: Markets and Morality Featuring Yaron Brook and Rich Benjamin”
    Morningstar
    22 W Washington St
    Chicago, IL

  • Brooklyn Book Festival 2013

    Sun, Sep 22, 2013, 1pm
    Panel Moderator: “Get a Job!: To Have and Not Have In America Today”
    Brooklyn Historical Society Library
    128 Pierrepont Street
    Brooklyn, NY

  • The Aspen Institute, Roundtable on Community Change

    MAY 28 – Jun 1, 2013
    Racial Equity Leadership Development Program
    Aspen, CO

  • Yeshiva University

    Wed, Apr 17, 2013, 8pm
    “America’s Demographic Future”
    Beren Campus, 245 Lexington Avenue
    New York, NY

  • Phillips Exeter Academy

    Fri, Jan 18, 2013, 10am-Noon
    “Inequality in America”
    Grangier Auditorium
    Exeter, NH

  • Strand Bookstore

    Thurs, Sep 27, 2012, 7-9pm
    “Elites and the Jobless: What Comes Next?”
    Rich Benjamin in Conversation with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes & DW Gibson
    New York, NY

  • City University of New York (CUNY), Graduate School of Public Health

    Wed, May 9, 2012, 6-8pm
    “Anthropology and Epidemiology: Researching Change”
    5th Avenue (@34th Street)
    New York, NY

  • The Jefferson Center

    Sat, May 5, 2012, Noon-2pm
    “Moving Millions to the Middle Class: A 21st Century Economy”
    Double Tree Park Place
    Minneapolis, MN

  • Poly Prep Country Day School

    Tues, Apr 2, 2012, 8-10am
    “The Gated Community Mentality”
    9216 Seventh Avenue
    Brooklyn, NY

  • Book Court

    Wed, Nov 30, 2011, 7-9pm
    “Maps and Memory”
    Rich reads from his new book-in-progress
    163 Court Street
    Brooklyn, NY

  • California State University, Fullerton

    Tues, Nov 15, 2011, 3-4:30pm
    “The Color of Tomorrow: Whites, Latinos, and America’s ‘Post-Racial’ Future”
    Lecture / Discussion
    CSU, Fullerton
    800 N. State College Blvd
    Fullerton, CA

  • What Can a Crisis Tell Us?

    Tues, Oct 18, 2011, 7-8pm
    Bestselling Author Nomi Prins and Rolling Stone Contributor Matt Taibbi in conversation w/ Rich
    Strand Bookstore
    828 Broadway (@12th St)
    New York, NY

  • Utah Housing Coalition 2011 Conference

    Tues, Oct 3, 2011, 12pm
    Keynote Address
    Utah Cultural Celebration Center
    1355 W 3100 S
    West Valley City, UT

  • Facing History

    Fri, Jul 15, 2011, 9am
    Talk / Tutorial
    Friends Seminary
    222 East 16th Street
    New York, NY

  • New York University, Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute

    Tues, Feb 15, 2011, 3:30pm
    “Obama in the Age of Whitopia”
    Lecture / Discussion
    20 Cooper Sq.
    New York, NY

  • Pomona College

    Tues, Sep 21, 2010 7pm
    “Whitopias Rising: Race an Rage in America”
    Debate w/ Gerard Alexander (American Enterprise Institute)
    Rose Hills Theater, Pomona College
    Claremont, CA

  • Facing History

    Fri, Aug 13, 2010, 9am
    Talk / Tutorial
    Urban Assembly School for Law and Justic
    283 Adams Street
    New York, NY

  • Columbia Basin College

    Mon, Jun 7, 2010, 6:30pm
    Talk / Q&A
    Hawk Union Building, Main Stage
    Pasco, WA

  • The Little Professor Bookstore

    Mon, May 17, 2010, 4:30-5:30pm
    Reading / Q&A
    15. N. Main Street
    St. George, UT

  • Democrats of Southern Utah Luncheon

    Mon, May 17, 2010, 11:30am-12:30pm
    Talk / Q&A
    The Best Western Abbey Inn
    1129 S. Bluff Street
    Cost: $15
    St. George, UT

  • Columbia University

    Wed, Apr 7, 2010, 12-1:30pm
    Talk/Q&A
    Faculty House, 2nd Floor
    64 Morningside Dr. (@ W. 116 St)
    New York, NY

  • Tides Foundation / Commonweal Institute

    Fri, Mar 12, 2010, 12-1:30pm
    Lecture / Brown Bag: “America’s Demographic Future and the Common Good”
    Tides Foundation, The Pacific Room
    1014 Tourney Avenue, The Presidio
    San Francisco, CA

  • Stanford Bookstore

    Thurs, Mar 11, 2010, 5:30-6:30pm
    Book Signing / Reception
    519 Lasuen Mall
    Palo Alto, CA

  • Stanford University

    Thurs, Mar 11, 2010, 4pm
    Lecture/Q&A
    Levinthal Hall, Stanford Humanities Center
    424 Santa Teresa Street
    Palo Alto, CA

  • Colgate University

    Wed, Mar 3, 2010, 6:30pm
    Lecture/Q&A
    Persson Auditorium
    Persson Hall
    Hamilton, NY

  • Rutgers University-New Brunswick

    Thurs, Jan 28, 2010, 6pm
    Lecture/Q&A
    Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room B
    New Brunswick, NJ

  • Happy Ending Reading Series: “America Night”

    Wed, Jan 6, 2010, 7pm
    Reading / Signing w/ Musical Guest
    Joe’s Pub
    425 Lafayette Street (@ E. 4th)
    New York, NY

  • Open Society Institute / Enoch Pratt Free Public Library

    Tues, Dec 1, 2009, 7pm
    Talk/Signing/Conversation
    Wheeler Main Auditorium
    400 Cathedral St.
    Baltimore, MD

  • New York University, Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute

    Tues, Dec 1, 2009, 11am
    Panel Discussion with Rich Benjamin, Ted Conover (New Jack City), Bryan Mealer (The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind) & more
    Stern School of Business, Schimmel Auditorium, 40 W. 4th Street
    New York, NY

  • New York Writers Benefit for Public School 8

    Thurs, Nov 19, 2009, 7pm
    Featuring Rich Benjamin, Gabriel Byrne, Warren St. John & more
    Umbrage Gallery
    111 Front Street
    New York, NY

  • Paragraph Reading Series

    Wed, Nov 11, 2009, 7pm
    Talk/Signing/Q&A
    85 E. 4th Street
    New York, NY

  • Town Hall Seattle

    Tues, Nov 3, 2009, 7:30pm
    Talk/Signing/Q&A
    1119 8th Ave (@Seneca St)
    Seattle, WA

  • Tattered Cover Book Store

    Thurs, Oct 29, 2009, 7:30pm
    Talk/Signing/Q&A
    2526 East Colfax Avenue
    Denver, CO

  • The Commonwealth Club & Santa Clara University

    Tue, Oct 27, 2009, 12pm
    Talk/Signing/Q&A
    500 El Camino Real, SCU campus
    Santa Clara, CA

  • Idlewild Books

    Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 7pm
    Talk/Signing/ Conversation w/ Joseph O’Neill (Netherland)
    12 W. 19th Street (@ 5th Ave.)
    New York, NY

  • Politics and Prose

    Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 1pm
    Talk/Signing/Q&A
    5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW
    Washington, DC

  • National Launch, Demos

    Thurs, Oct 8, 2009, 6pm
    Talk/Signing/Q&A
    220 Fifth Avenue (@26th Street), 5th Floor
    New York, NY