Chicago Public Library's Author Michael Luo: Strangers in the Land

Event Date: May 6, 2025 (6-7PM)

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, CPL welcomes journalist Michael Luo to discuss his new book Strangers In The Land: Exclusion, Belonging, And The Epic Story Of The Chinese In America. Michael will be in conversation with Geraldo Cadava.

Strangers in the Land is an epic history of exclusion, belonging, and the complications of America’s multiracial democracy. This is a cinematic, character-driven, deeply researched story of race in America that places Chinese American history alongside other events that took place during a crucial period of formation for the country after the Civil War, when visions of liberty and equality foundered. This is not just the story of the Chinese in America; it’s the story of any number of immigrant groups who have been treated as strangers.

Michael Luo is an executive editor at The New Yorker and writes regularly for the magazine on politics, religion, and Asian American issues. Before joining the magazine in 2016, he spent thirteen years at The New York Times as a national correspondent, metro reporter, and investigative reporter and editor. He is a recipient of a George Polk Award and a Livingston Award for Young Journalists. He is a second-generation Chinese American and lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

Moderator Geraldo Cadava is a professor of History at Northwestern University and a historian of the United States, focusing on Latinos in the United States, the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, and Latin American immigration. He is the author of two books, The Hispanic Republican: The Shaping of An American Political Identity, from Nixon to Trump, and Standing on Common Ground: The Making of a Sunbelt Borderland, and is currently working on a third book, an overview of Latino History since the Spanish conquest called A Thousand Bridges.

How to Attend:

Doors to the Auditorium open at 5:30 p.m., and seating is first come, first served (350 capacity). Books are available for purchase and the author will autograph books at the conclusion of the program.

This event will also take place live on CPL's YouTube channel and CPL's Facebook page. You'll be able to ask questions during the event as well! Can't make it to the live stream? We'll archive the video on YouTube to watch later.

Accessibility

Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.

Photo credit: Elinor Carucci

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