Montclair Public Library kicks off its popular, long-running author conversation series, Open Book / Open Mind 2023, on Saturday, February 25, at 4 p.m. with a discussion between Toluse Olorunnipa, Washington Post White House correspondent and co-author of “His Name Is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice,” and Jon Fortt of CNBC.
The event has a hybrid format, taking place in person and livestreaming to Zoom. It will be followed by a book sale and signing with our program partner, Watchung Booksellers. Masks are optional but strongly recommended for all library programs. Registration is required.
Library Director Janet Torsney says, “In the wake of Tyre Nichols’s tragic death and other recent national events, “His Name is George Floyd” is, sadly, more relevant than ever. We are honored to host these two distinguished journalists for what is sure to be a memorable and thought-provoking evening.”
Toluse Olorunnipa is the White House bureau chief of The Washington Post, and the co-author of “His Name is George Floyd.” He joined the Post in 2019 and has covered the last three presidents. Previously, he spent five years at Bloomberg News, where he reported on politics and policy from Washington and Florida. Olorunnipa reported from five continents and more than 20 countries as part of the presidential press corps. He started his career at the Miami Herald, where he covered real estate, natural disasters and crime — sometimes all at once.
Jon Fortt is co-anchor of CNBC’s bi-coastal tech-focused program “TechCheck” (M-F, 11AM-12PM ET/8AM-9AM PT); and creator of the weekly segments, “On the Other Hand” on “Squawk Box” and “Working Lunch” on “Power Lunch.” Previously, he co-anchored CNBC’s “Squawk Alley” and prior served as an on-air editor based at CNBC’s global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Fortt joined CNBC as technology correspondent in July 2010, working from CNBC’s Silicon Valley bureau where he covered the companies, start-ups and trends that are driving innovation in the industry.
“His Name is George Floyd” was a finalist for the National Book Award. “It is a testament to the power of “His Name Is George Floyd” that the book’s most vital moments come not after Floyd’s death, but in its intimate, unvarnished and scrupulous account of his life . . . Impressive.”—New York Times Book Review
In 2023, Open Book / Open Mind will also feature Colson Whitehead (“Crook Manifesto”), Michelle Zauner (“Crying in H Mart”), Kate Zernike (“The Exceptions”), Rachel Swarns (“The 272”), Robert Pinsky (“Jersey Breaks”), Lisa Belkin (“Genealogy of a Murder”) and others.