On Black Buddhism and Radical Thought (In Person)

• This is an in-person conversation event with audience Q&A. [Register for the livestream event]
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Join author Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad for a conversation exploring a Dharma of liberation, offering timely lessons to help us meet this moment, using the writings of Audre Lorde and James Baldwin to provide real world examples of this dharma in practice.

Dr. Vesely-Flad’s latest book The Fire Inside, examines the writings of Lorde and Baldwin through a Dharmic lens, and discusses how two of America’s greatest literary voices reflect—and expand—Buddhism’s most timeless truths toward justice and liberation. In this conversation with mindfulness teacher Rhonda V. Magee, she will share how the writers’ enduring legacies show that liberation depends not only on organizing and mass movements, but the generative power of inner well-being, authenticity, art, and embodiment. She invites us to examine Baldwin and Lorde through key Buddhist principles such as suffering as teacher, impermanence, karma, anger, and compassion in order to deepen and enhance our own understanding of Buddhism, and liberation.

Through her work and writing, Dr. Vesely-Flad centers and celebrates Black, queer, radical thought and invites us to embrace the ways our inner lives, creative fire, sensuality, and expressions of love can ignite and sustain revolutionary liberation.

Meet the Hosts

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Rima Vesely-Flad, PhD, is the author of Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition: The Practice of Stillness in the Movement for Liberation (NYU Press, 2022) and Racial Purity and Dangerous Bodies: Moral Pollution, Black Lives, and the Struggle for Justice (Fortress Press, 2017). She is Founding Director of the Initiative for Black Buddhist Studies and a Visiting Affiliate Fellow at Princeton University’s Center for Culture, Society, and Religion. Dr. Vesely-Flad is former Founding Director of the Inside Out Prison Education Program, a partnership between the Swannanoa Correctional Institution for Women and Warren Wilson College, and also taught college-level courses at Sing Sing Prison in New York State. She was a Fulbright Scholar and Awardee in South Africa and Ghana.You can follow her work at www.blackbuddhiststudies.org and on Instagram @blackbuddhiststudies.

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Rhonda V. Magee, M.A., J.D., is a storyteller and author whose innovative mindfulness teachings, community building and creativity-based practices explore the healing powers of soulful mindfulness. A recovering full-time tenured law professor, she is Professor of Law, Emerita, and was the Founding Director of the Center for Contemplative Law and Ethics at the University of San Francisco School of Law. Professor Magee has been featured on stages ranging from Parliament to the United Nations’ World Headquarters in Geneva. She is the author of the award-winning The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness (Penguin RandomHouse TarcherPerigee: 2019), and her current work-in-progress, WE ARE THE MOUNTAIN, presents awareness practices as central to remaking our way to 21st century thriving.   

Important Information

We are grateful to our Bookstore Partner

Marcus Books is the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore celebrating its 60th year. Marcus Books’ mission is to provide opportunities for Black folks and their allies to celebrate and learn about Black people everywhere. Learn more about Marcus Books.

Accessibility Information 

If you need to request accessibility accommodations, please email publicprograms@ciis.edu at least one week prior to the event. For more information, explore our Accessibility web page.

Recording Policy 

Ticket holders will have access to an ad-free replay of the event for one month after the live event, after which unlimited viewing with ads will be available. Portions of the audio will also be released on our podcast. Only registered ticket holders who choose to watch live can participate in the chat and Q&A.

Refund Policy 

All tickets and add-ons purchased for this event are nonrefundable.