BookSwell

An inspiring book about the power of community based on one of Rabbi Sharon Brous’s most impactful sermons.Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00PMThe Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and WorldRabbi Sharon BrousIn conversation with Father Gregory BoyleCo-presented with Skylight Books“Rabbi Brous shares remarkable compassion, insight, and moral vision in these pages that illuminate a way forward at a time when the fog of fear and anger in the world grows ever dense. This wonderful book is welcome, affirming, and urgently needed.” —Bryan Stevenson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just MercyJoin us for a conversation with one of our country’s most prominent rabbis, Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR, discussing her new book, The Amen Effect, which looks at our society’s deep disconnection and alienation and explores how we can tackle our loneliness and isolation by embracing and rebuilding our communities.Rabbi Brous will be in conversation with celebrated Los Angeles-based activist and founder of Homeboy Industries, Father Gregory Boyle.

Writers Bloc and PEN AMERICA present Moshe KasherWE REQUEST THAT YOU WEAR A MASK AT THE PROGRAM.Stand-up comedian Moshe Kasher, author of the magnificent memoir, Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16, has written another book. And it's as absorbing, consuming, and culturally relevant as his first.Subculture Vulture is the story of Moshe Kasher's unbelievably unconventional life in six parts, each part relating to his significant experience exploring and living many different lives as part of many groups. His adolescence in Alcoholics Anonymous. American Sign Language Interpreter. His complicated relationship with religious Judaism. Burning Man employee. Raver. And of course, Comedy. Moshe Kasher is dazzlingly funny while leading us head-on into truths about communities and consequential subcultures that formed who he is.Mayim Bialik stands at the crossroads of comedy and mental health. Talk about a brilliant multi-hyphenate. Mayim Bialik's acclaimed and enormously popular podcast, Breakdown, covers a range of mental health issues, based on her background and interest in neuroscience. The podcast is notable not only for her expertise, but also for her guest list, which includes a wide array of scientists, Read More ...

Join Mark Daley as he discusses his new memoir. ABOUT THE BOOK A heartrending and unforgettable memoir of an unlikely journey to parenthood through America's broken foster care system. What does it take to keep a child safe? As a long-time strategist and activist fighting for better outcomes for foster children, Mark Daley thought he had the answer. But when Ethan and Logan, an adorable infant and a precocious toddler, entered into their lives, Mark and his husband Jason quickly realized they were not remotely prepared for the uncertainty and complication of foster parenting. Every day seven hundred children enter the foster care system in the United States, and thousands more live on the brink. Safe offers a deeply personal window into what happens when the universal longing for family crashes up against the unique madness and bureaucracy of a child protection system that often fails to consider the needs of the most vulnerable parties of all--the children themselves. Daley takes us on a roller coaster ride as he and Jason grapple with Ethan and Logan's potential reunification with their biological family, learn brutal lessons about sacrifice, acceptance, and healing, and face the honest, heartbreaking, and sometimes hilarious challenges of Read More ...

Join us for a captivating in-person lecture on books bound in human skin during Rare Books LA - Pasadena!Dark Archives: Books Bound in Human SkinJoin librarian and author Megan Curran Rosenbloom for a discussion of her book Dark Archives: A Librarian’s Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin, which was a New York Times editor’s choice.Megan Curran Rosenbloom is Collection Strategies Librarian at UCLA Library in Los Angeles. She served as a medical librarian for many years, during which she developed a keen interest in the history of medicine and rare books.This talk is being held during Rare Books LA - Pasadena.For the love of books! Rare Books LA – Pasadena welcomes booksellers and bibliophiles from around the world to share their love of books, fine prints, maps, ephemera, and more on February 3-4, 2024 at the Pasadena Convention Center.“This book fair is a can’t miss whether you’re searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the book lover in your life or just want to spend a fun and educational day with a loved one,” said Rare Books LA Director Jodi Tolan. In addition to rare books, visitors will see everything from historic maps Read More ...

We explore authors’ creative inspirations and intersections during Black History Month. How do breakthrough writers pave the way for a more inclusive publishing landscape? How do contemporary writers want their work to be received? Where do literary legacies and ambitions intersect? The series opener for WeHo Reads 2024 will feature authors celebrating their inspirations and examining how their work intersects with literary luminaries during Black History Month. Participating writers will include Rachel Howzell Hall, the bestselling author of multiple crime novels, including What Never Happened (Thomas and Mercer, 2023); Lisa Teasley, author of Fluid: Stories (Cune Press, 2023) and librettist of The Passion of Nell, commissioned by the Long Beach Opera; Jervey Tervalon, an award-winning poet, screenwriter, lecturer, and dramatist, who is the author of Monster’s Chef (Amistad/HarperCollins, 2014) and All the Trouble You Need (Atria Books/Washington Square Books, 2002); and Tamika Thompson, a writer, producer, and journalist, who is the author of the speculative fiction collection Unshod, Cackling, and Naked (Unnerving, 2023). The event is free and you can watch via YouTube Live on the WeHo Arts channel. Learn more at www.weho.org/wehoreads/ WeHo Reads is a literary series presented by the City of West Hollywood. More information and events Read More ...

From bestselling author, media pioneer, and curator of TED, comes an inspiring guide to amplifying kindness and igniting a movement on bothJoin us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 8pm*Virtual event airs on February 12 at 6pm PT/9pm ETAn Evening with Chris AndersonInfectious Generosity:The Ultimate Idea Worth SpreadingTICKETS:$47 General Admission ticket + signed copy of Chris Anderson's book$20 General Admisison ticketAdditional books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on Febryary 12, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.F ree parking at the venueFrom bestselling author, media pioneer, and curator of TED, comes an inspiring guide to amplifying kindness and igniting a movement on both an individual and global scale.Chris Anderson has led TED since 2001, overseeing its transformation from an annual conference to a nonprofit with global reach, sharing TED Talks, podcasts, and TED-Ed videos freely to all.Today’s culture seems to be trending ever meaner and more divisive: INFECTIOUS GENEROSITY offers an antidote. Chris Anderson argues that by rethinking generosity in this connected era, we can Read More ...

In person author event with Chris Cander and Allie Rowbottom at Zibby's Bookshop, 1113 Montana Ave, Santa Monica CA, 90403!We're hosting Chris Cander as she celebrates the launch of THE YOUNG OF OTHER ANIMALS! Chris will be joined in conversation by Allie Rowbotton, author of AESTHETICA. About the book:Mayree and Paula are a mother and daughter drifting apart, separated by grief and more, after the death of Mayree’s husband.Mayree faces a future with no income, career, or social life. Even ties with her best friend have been severed. Paula, feeling abandoned by the father she loved, is left with only a bitter mother. When Paula reveals that she narrowly escaped a violent assault, Mayree’s initial reaction is dismissal and disbelief. But as details unfold, it’s clear that it was real and not just one random night gone horribly wrong―someone is out to destroy their lives.With each new threat from Paula’s assailant, harrowing family secrets reemerge that force the mother and daughter to confront the shared traumas of their pasts. Drawing on courage and hope, they must save the relationship they never realized they’d lost.About the authors:Chris Cander is the USA Today bestselling author of A GRACIOUS NEIGHBOR, THE WEIGHT OF Read More ...

Join us for author Malia Lazu's stop on her 'From Intention to Impact' Book Tour in West Hollywood!From Intention to Impact Book Tour with author Malia Lazu: West Hollywood, CAHow business leaders can move their DEI efforts from intention to impact through strategy and culture change.In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, corporate America has doubled down on its public intentions to be more inclusive and equitable. Yet beyond the pledges it is difficult to see which system changes make a real difference. In From Intention to Impact, Malia Lazu draws on her background as a community organizer, her corporate career as a bank president, and now her experience as a leading DEI consultant to explain what has been holding organizations back and what they need to do better. First and foremost, she recognizes that truly moving from intention to impact means targeting and changing the traditions and culture that normalize whiteness.From Intention to Impact shows what organizations, leaders, and people at all levels must do to create more inclusive environments that honor and value diversity. Lazu shares a seven-stage guide through this process as well as a 3L model of listening, learning, and loving that readers can use from Read More ...

Michèle Lamont with Viet Thanh Nguyen discussing her book, "Seeing Others: How Recognition Works―and How It Can Heal a Divided World."Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Thursday, February 8, 2024, 8pm*Virtual event airs on February 13 at 6pm PT/9pm ETMichèle Lamont with Viet Thanh NguyenSeeing Others: How Recognition Works―and How It Can Heal a Divided WorldTICKETS:$70 General Admisison ticket + two signed books (by Lamont and A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen)$45 General Admission ticket + signed copy of Lamont's book$20 General Admisison ticketAdditional books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on Febryary 13, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.F ree parking at the venueAcclaimed Harvard sociologist makes the case for reexamining what we value to prioritize recognition—the quest for respect—in an age that has been defined by growing inequality and the obsolescence of the American dream.Michèle Lamont is Professor of Sociology and of African and African American Studies and the Robert I. Goldman Professor of European Studies at Harvard University. An influential cultural Read More ...

Author Joanne McNeil discusses her acclaimed new science fiction novelJoin author Joanne McNeil to discuss her acclaimed new science-fiction novel Wrong Way Saturday February 10th at 1:00 p.m. in the Edendale Library community room, in conversation with screenwriter Lindsey Villarreal. Wrong Way lures us into a perilous near-future world of driverless cars and the corporate gig-workers behind the scenes, exploring the human cost of surrendering to utopian gadgetry. It’s been called “a Ballardian tale… a powerful example of what the contemporary novel can and should be in our endlessly perplexing times” and “a literary sneak attack on the very idea of ‘the future’ as commonly constructed in fiction.”Wrong Way is available as a print book and an e-book at the Los Angeles Public Library.The Edendale Library is at 2011 Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park. Our parking lot is around the corner off Alvarado St.. Email eden@lapl.org for more information.

Join us for a conversation of New York Bestseller Master Slave Husband Wife featuring our special guests followed by a book signing.The Friends of the Long Beach Public Library and the African American Heritage Society presents "Public History, Private Memory: The Legacy of Ellen and William Craft".Meet our special guest Ilyon Woo and Peggy Trotter Dammond Preacely for an unforgetattable story of Ellen and William Craft depicted in Master Slave Husband Wife. This event will include an informal conversation followed by an autograph signing.Date: Saturday, February 10, 2024Time: Doors Open at 1:30pm, Event Begins at 2:00pmLocation: Long Beach City College - Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium(4901 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90808)FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***NO TICKETS REQUIRED***Purchase a book!Books will be available for purchase at the event, but you can ensure that you get a copy by pre-ordering here. You can pick your book up at 1:30pm on the day of the event.Can't make it to the event? Pre-order the book here to have it shipped directly to you!Questions?For additional questions, please email: lb.libraryfriends@gmail.comBook Details:One of The New York Times’s 10 Best Books of 2023New York Times BestsellerNamed a best book of 2023 by The New Yorker, Read More ...

Join Us for the Common Read 2024 Keynote: The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGheeJoin Us for the Common Read 2024 Keynote: The Sum of US by Heather McGheeIn-Person, Bronco Student Center, Ursa MajorAbout The Sum of UsIn The Sum of Us, Heather McGhee dives into her specialty, the American Economy, and the mystery of why it often fails the American public. From the financial crisis to rising student debt to collapsing public infrastructure, McGhee has found a common root problem: racism. McGhee explains that racism has costs for white people too and it is the common denominator of our most vexing public problems, the core dysfunction of our democracy and constitutive of the spiritual and moral crises that grip us all. McGhee embarks on a deeply personal journey across the country from Mississippi to California to Maine, tallying what we lose when we buy into the zero-sum paradigm--the idea the progress for some of us must come at the expense of others. Along the way, she meets white people who confide in her about losing their homes, their dreams, and their shot at better jobs to the toxic mix Read More ...

From bestselling author, media pioneer, and curator of TED, comes an inspiring guide to amplifying kindness and igniting a movement on both*** US Orders only....We only ship to US addresses. Join us for a virtual Live Talks Los Angeles event:Monday, February 12, 2024, 6pmAn Evening with Chris AndersonInfectious Generosity:The Ultimate Idea Worth SpreadingTICKETS:$45 General Admission ticket + signed copy of Chris Anderson's bookThe virtual version of this event airs on Febryary 12, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.From bestselling author, media pioneer, and curator of TED, comes an inspiring guide to amplifying kindness and igniting a movement on both an individual and global scale.Chris Anderson has led TED since 2001, overseeing its transformation from an annual conference to a nonprofit with global reach, sharing TED Talks, podcasts, and TED-Ed videos freely to all.Today’s culture seems to be trending ever meaner and more divisive: INFECTIOUS GENEROSITY offers an antidote. Chris Anderson argues that by rethinking generosity in this connected era, we can shape it into a force that can spread across the world. Generosity? Really?! It seems too small a force arrayed against today’s problems. But the pandemic taught us that even a tiny virus Read More ...

In person author event with Jennifer Lang and Blair Glaser at Zibby's Bookshop, 1113 Montana Ave, Santa Monica CA, 90403!We're hosting Jennifer Lang as she discusses her book, Places We Left Behind: A Memoir-in-Miniature! Jennifer will be joined in conversation by Blair Glaser.About the book:When American-born Jennifer falls in love with French-born Philippe during the First Intifada in Israel, she understands their relationship isn't perfect. Both 23, both Jewish, they lead very different lives: she's a secular tourist, he's an observant immigrant. Despite their opposing outlooks on two fundamental issues—country and religion—they are determined to make it work. For the next 20 years, they root and uproot their growing family, each longing for a singular place to call home. In Places We Left Behind, Jennifer puts her marriage under a microscope, examining commitment and compromise, faith and family while moving between prose and poetry, playing with language and form, daring the reader to read between the lines.About the authors:Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer Lang lives in Tel Aviv, where she runs israelwriterstudio. Her prize-winning essays appear in Baltimore Review, Under the Sun, Midway Journal, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and Read More ...

Join us as we hang out with Kiley Reid and dive deep into her captivating novel, Come and Get It—don't miss it!From the celebrated New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age comes a fresh and provocative story about a residential assistant and her messy entanglement with a professor and three unruly students.It's 2017 at the University of Arkansas. Millie Cousins, a senior resident assistant, wants to graduate, get a job, and buy a house. So when Agatha Paul, a visiting professor and writer, offers Millie an easy yet unusual opportunity, she jumps at the chance. But Millie's starry-eyed hustle becomes jeopardized by odd new friends, vengeful dorm pranks, and illicit intrigue.A fresh and intimate portrait of desire, consumption, and reckless abandon, Come and Get It is a tension-filled story about money, indiscretion, and bad behavior--and the highly anticipated new novel by acclaimed and award-winning author Kiley Reid. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)Traci Thomas is the creator and host of The Stacks, a weekly podcast about books and the ways they shape our cultural understandings. Traci writes a monthly bookish advice column on shereads.com, is a contributor on NPR’s Here and Now, and created LAists live literary series, One for Read More ...

"Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood"Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Thursday, February 15, 2024, 8pm*Virtual event airs on February 19 at 6pm PT/9pm ETEd Zwick with Patty JenkinsHits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in HollywoodTICKETS:$47 General Admission ticket + signed copy of Ed Zwick's book$25 General Admisison ticketAdditional books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on Febryary 19, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days. Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.F ree parking at the venueA heartfelt and wry career memoir from the director of Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, Legends of the Fall, About Last Night, and Glory, creator of the show thirtysomething, and executive producer of My So-Called Life, gives a dishy, behind-the-scenes look at working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood.Ed Zwick’s long career has spanned four decades of directing, producing, and writing projects that have collectively received eighteen Academy Award nominations (seven wins) and sixty-seven Emmy nominations (twenty-two wins). His filmography as director includes Glory, Legends of the Fall, Blood Read More ...

A Generative Workshop with Jose Hernandez DiazThis exciting generative poetry workshop will begin with close readings and discussions of established masters of the surreal and strange like James Tate, Marosa di Giorgio, Shivani Mehta, Will Alexander, and others--as well as engage attendees with surreal and strange prompts in an effort to write their own innovative work. The instructor will also share some of his own work responding to the prompts for guidance and inspiration. Participants should expect to draft 2-5 poems in this workshop.About the facilitatorJose Hernandez Diaz is a 2017 NEA Poetry Fellow. He is the author of The Fire Eater (Texas Review Press, 2020) Bad Mexican, Bad American (Acre Books, 2024), and The Parachutist (Sundress Publications, 2025). He teaches generative workshops for Hugo House, Lighthouse Writers Workshops, The Writer's Center, and elsewhere. Additionally, he serves as a Poetry Mentor in The Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program.Masks are encouraged while inside our center.One scholarship will be awarded to a QTPOC/BIPOC L.A.-residing individual who would like to join but does not have the means to do so. Please email us if interested at info@beyondbaroque.org.Workshop attendees are expected to participate in a respectful, constructive, and considerate manner. Beyond Baroque reserves the Read More ...

Join Glendale Library, Arts & Culture and Aida Zilelian, educator and storyteller from Queens, NY as she discusses her latest book.Join Glendale Library, Arts & Culture and Aida Zilelian, a first generation American-Armenian writer, educator and storyteller from Queens, NY as she discusses her latest book title All the Ways We Lied in conversation with author and poet Shahé Mankerian.Co-sponored by Abril BooksSet in Queens, New York, while a father deteriorates from terminal illness, three sisters contend with one another, their self-destructive pasts, and their indomitable mother as they face the loss of the one person holding their unstable family together.Kohar, the oldest sister, is happily married, yet grapples with fertility issues and, in turn, her own self-worth. Lucine, the middle child, is trapped in a loveless marriage and haunted by memories of her estranged father. Azad, the beloved youngest child, is burdened by an inescapable cycle of failed relationships.By turns heartfelt and heart-wrenching, All the Ways We Lied introduces a cast of tragically flawed but lovable characters on the brink of unraveling. With humor and compassion, this spellbinding tale explores the fraught and contradictory landscape of sisterhood, introducing four unforgettable women who have nothing in common, and are bound Read More ...

Celebrate new collections by ire’ne lara silva and Angelina SáenzBeyond Baroque is proud to present a dual book launch and reading by Chicana poets ire’ne lara silva and Angelina Sáenz in celebration of their new poetry collections! The fifth collection by 2023 Texas State Poet Laureate ire’ne silva, the eaters of flowers (Saddle Road Press), compiles poems exploring family and personal grief following the death of her brother. The second collection by Angelina Sáenz, Maestra (FlowerSong Press), navigates the current public school landscape through poems highlighting narratives of mentors, students, and working class parents of color.The poets will be joined by Chicana poet and scholar Jen Yáñez-Alaniz, whose research focuses on academic decolonization, and Inglewood-born-and-raised poet féi hernandez, author of Hood Criatura. Book signings will follow the readings.Doors Open: 6:30 PM Readings: 7:00 PMAbout the authorsire’ne lara silva is the 2023 Texas State Poet Laureate and the author of five poetry collections, furia, Blood Sugar Canto, CUICACALLI/House of Song, FirstPoems, and the eaters of flowers; two chapbooks, Enduring Azucares and Hibiscus Tacos; and a short story collection, flesh to bone, which won the Premio Aztlán. ire’ne is the recipient of a 2021 Tasajillo Writers Grant, the 2021 Texas Institute of Read More ...

"Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood"*** US Orders Only***Join us for a virtual Live Talks Los Angeles event:Monday, February 19, 2024, 6pm PT/9pm ETEd Zwick with Patty JenkinsHits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in HollywoodTICKETS:$45 General Admission ticket + signed copy of Ed Zwick's bookUS Orders only. We only ship to addresses in the USThe virtual version of this event airs on Febryary 19, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days. ASL interpreter provided upon request.A heartfelt and wry career memoir from the director of Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, Legends of the Fall, About Last Night, and Glory, creator of the show thirtysomething, and executive producer of My So-Called Life, gives a dishy, behind-the-scenes look at working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood.Ed Zwick’s long career has spanned four decades of directing, producing, and writing projects that have collectively received eighteen Academy Award nominations (seven wins) and sixty-seven Emmy nominations (twenty-two wins). His filmography as director includes Glory, Legends of the Fall, Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, Courage Under Fire, Love & Other Drugs, and Defiance; with producing credits including Steven Soderbergh's Traffic and Shakespeare in Read More ...

Come join us for an awesome Barnes n Noble Signing At The Grove event, where you can meet your favorite authors, get signed book!Barnes n Noble Signing At The Grove Join us for an exciting in-person event at The Grove in Los Angeles, CA, USA. This is your chance to meet your favorite authors, get your books signed, and have a blast with fellow book lovers. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of this renowned location as you connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for literature. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to engage with renowned authors and discover new literary gems. Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable experience at Barnes n Noble Signing At The Grove!

"What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life"Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Monday, February 26, 2024, 8pm*Virtual event airs on March 2 at 3pm PT/6pm ETAn Evening with Billy Dee WilliamsWhat Have We Here?: Portraits of a LifeTICKETS:$50 General Admission ticket + signed copy of Billy Dee William's memoir$25 General Admisison ticketAdditional books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on March 2 , at 3pm PT/6PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days. Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.F ree parking at the venueBilly Dee Williams recalls his remarkable life of nearly eight decades—a heralded actor who's played the roles he wanted, from Brian’s Song to Lando in the Star Wars universe—unchecked by the racism and typecasting so rife in the mostly all-white industry in which he triumphed.Billy Dee Williams was born and raised in Harlem in 1937. He studied painting, first at the High School of Music and Art with fellow student Diahann Carroll, and then at the National Academy of Fine Art, before setting out to pursue acting with Herbert Berghof, Stella Adler, Read More ...

"What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life"*** US Orders Only***Join us for a virtual Live Talks Los Angeles event:Saturday, March 2, 2024, 3pm PT/6pm ETAn Evening with Billy Dee WilliamsWhat Have We Here?: Portraits of a LifeTICKETS:$45 General Admission ticket + signed copy of Billy Dee William's bookUS Orders only. We only ship to addresses in the USThe virtual version of this event airs on March 2, at 3pm PT/6PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Books ship 7-10 days after the event.ASL interpreter provided upon request.Billy Dee Williams recalls his remarkable life of nearly eight decades—a heralded actor who's played the roles he wanted, from Brian’s Song to Lando in the Star Wars universe—unchecked by the racism and typecasting so rife in the mostly all-white industry in which he triumphed.Billy Dee Williams was born and raised in Harlem in 1937. He studied painting, first at the High School of Music and Art with fellow student Diahann Carroll, and then at the National Academy of Fine Art, before setting out to pursue acting with Herbert Berghof, Stella Adler, and Sidney Poitier. He has starred in forty movies, seven Broadway plays, and has made more than forty television Read More ...