Burdened: Student Debt and the Making of an American Crisis

It’s no accident that the student-debt crisis has trapped 43 million people in the US in a combined total of more than $1.7 trillion in debt. These conditions, writes Ryann Liebenthal in Burdened: Student Debt and the Making of an American Crisis, were manufactured, in part, to stifle student activism, with far-reaching impacts on us all. 

Marguerite Casey Foundation and Haymarket Books are proud to present an illuminating MCF Book Club discussion that dives into the lessons offered in Burdened with nationally renowned writer Ryann Liebenthal, assistant professor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Dr. Leah Barlow, and activist and researcher Dr. Jalil Mustaffa Bishop. MCF president and CEO Dr. Carmen Rojas will moderate this event.

Get your tickets now to join us in person at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) to explore how imposing overwhelming financial obligations on students actively discourages generations from taking risks, participating in protests, organizing for social justice, or pursuing careers in public service or impactful fields like education and nonprofit work where pay is lower than it should be.

Breaking down how the financial pressure of lifelong debt forces students to prioritize survival over challenging oppression and injustice, this conversation will build an understanding of how student-debt cancellation is not just an economic issue but also a critical step toward emboldening a new generation of organizers and leaders in the fight for transformative change and a better future for us all.

Register now at CaseyGrants.org/Burdened to join us on Monday, April 14, at 6:00 p.m., and get a free copy of the book on-site while supplies last.

Host or Publisher WSSU's University Advancement Department