BOOK EVENT: Black Genius w/ Tre Johnson

WHO & WHAT: Join Rep Club for a discussion on with author Tre Johnson & Van Lathan

WHEN: Doors at 6:30pm, event promptly at 7pm.

WHERE: Reparations Club, 3054 S. Victoria Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90016

HOW:

TICKET w/ BOOK: This ticket guarantees a seat including a signed book available for pick up at the event.

FREE RSVP (No Book Included): This Free RSVP DOES NOT include a copy of the book and entry is based strictly on capacity at the door. Books may be available for purchase in-store.

SIGNED BOOK ONLY: Can't make it IRL but still want a signed copy? Order directly from our site!

Please email us at [email protected] if you have any additional needs, questions, or accessibility concerns.

About the Book:

A POWERFUL READ REDEFINING THE MEANING OF GENIUS WHILE ILLUMINATING THE WAYS IN WHICH BLACK AMERICANS HAVE FOUND VARIOUS WAYS TO THRIVE DESPITE INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLES.

Black genius sits at the heart of the American story. In his probing essay collection, Black Genius, cultural critic Tre Johnson examines how Black American culture has, against all odds, been the lifeblood of American ingenuity. At times using his own personal and professional stories, Johnson surveys Black cities, communities, and schools with an ever-watchful eye of what transpires around Black mobility.

With a passion for complex storytelling and pulling from both pop culture and American history, Johnson weaves past and present making his case for the genius of innovation. As he examined his findings, Johnson couldn’t help but wonder about the brilliance of the every day. Specifically, the creativity of the 90’s graffiti-style airbrush tee, his aunties packed weekend bus trips to Atlantic city, and the razor-tongued, socially-sharp, profanity-laced monologues of comedian Dick Gregory.

Again and again, he asks us to ponder—are these not obvious examples of genius?

Chatty yet profound, Black Genius subverts expectations from the very first page with a blend of reportage, historical data, and pop culture as Johnson dives into his own family history seeking big answers to complex questions. Johnson’s signature wit and curiosity turns history into an amusing sequence of events.

TRE JOHNSON was born in Trenton, NJ, and now finds himself in Philadelphia, where he writes with a focus on race, culture, and politics. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Vox, The New York Times, Slate, Vanity Fair, The Grio, and other outlets. He has appeared to provide media commentary on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon; CBS Morning Show; PBS NewsHour, NPR’s Morning Edition, and other programs. In addition to writing, Tre is a career educator, working both inside and outside the classroom as a teacher and leader.

VAN LATHAN JR. is the cohost of the Ringer’s Higher Learning podcast and is best known as a former cohost and senior producer on TMZ Live. He is the Executive Producer for Two Distant Strangers, the 2021 Academy Award Winner for Best Live Action Short Film. He lives in Los Angeles.

Refund Policy At Rep Club, we are committed to providing a valuable experience for all attendees. However, we understand sometimes plans change. Below is our refund policy for ticket purchases:

Refund Eligibility Requests for refunds must be made no later than 14 calendar days prior to the event date via Eventbrite only.

- After this deadline, no refunds will be issued, except under extraordinary circumstances (see "Force Majeure" below).

- Refunds will only be issued to the original purchaser via the original method of payment (i.e. Eventbrite).

Non-Refundable Items Processing fees and service charges are non-refundable, unless the event is canceled by the organizer (i.e. Rep Club).

Event Cancellation or Rescheduling

- If the event is canceled by the organizer, a full refund will be issued to all ticket holders, including any fees paid.

- If the event is rescheduled, your ticket will automatically be valid for the new date. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled date, a refund request can be made within 7 calendar days of the rescheduling notice.

No-Show Policy If you do not attend the event and have not contacted us by the refund deadline, unfortunately no refund will be issued.

Contact Us If you have any questions regarding this refund policy, please contact us at [email protected].

Host or Publisher Reparations Club