What happens when telling the truth risks offending someone? What do we lose when keeping the peace means leaving important things unsaid?

Join Humanities New York and Queens Public Library for a Community Conversation anchored by a short excerpt from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Americanah. Together, we will consider whether offense is a threat to democratic life or an unavoidable part of speaking freely across differences.

What does a free society owe those who speak candidly and those affected by their words? When does avoiding offense help us live together? When does it keep necessary truths from being heard?

No advance reading or registration is required. Participants are invited to bring their own experiences to this free, guided discussion. Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Ridgewood.

This event is part of The Future of Democracy: Conflict, Disagreement, and Civic Life, a three-part conversation series presented by Humanities New York and Queens Public Library.

Learn more at the Queens Public Library event page.