The Zócalo Book Prize: America, Can We Take Down the Walls Between Us?

Anthropologist Anand Pandian visits Zócalo to talk about the everyday walls of American life, followed by an interactive reception.
About this Event

Co-presented with The Jar, and generously sponsored by Tim Disney

Moderated by Mike Madrid, Political Strategist and Co-Founder, The Lincoln Project

Americans love building walls, and not just on our international borders. Our houses are bigger and more fortress-like than ever before. We drive cars and trucks designed like mobile suits of armor. We consume media that reflects our point of view back to us, closing off dissenting voices. What are these walls doing to our country, our communities, and our minds? Can we stop building them, or even break them? And what might we put in their place? Johns Hopkins University anthropologist Anand Pandian, winner of the 2026 Zócalo Book Prize for Something Between Us: The Everyday Walls of American Life, and How to Take Them Down, visits Zócalo to share what he learned from talking to people across the country about what divides us and how we come together.

Zócalo Public Square is proud to award the 2026 Zócalo Poetry Prize to Deborah Ager, who will read her winning poem, “Letter from Indialantic,” live at our event.

The Jar, an organization that inspires you to connect to people like you and not like you, is co-presenting the 2026 Book Prize program. After the moderated conversation, we’ll jump into a reception that asks the audience to bring the evening’s ideas to life through The Jar’s Salon experience, where the walls between us come down in real time.

Stick around for book sales and author signings with Skylight Books.

The 2026 Zócalo Book and Poetry Prizes are generously sponsored by Tim Disney.

We ask all of our guests to plan on sticking around to participate in a special reception with The Jar featuring small bites and beverages, and organized conversation inspired by the winning book.

Zócalo Public Square values audience safety. During events at ASU California Center, as bag searches are not permitted, only clear bags (maximum size 12” x 6” x 12”) and small clutches (maximum size 8 ½” x 5 ½”) are allowed in the venue. Zócalo may be able to provide a limited number of clear bags to help accommodate guests. Questions? Ask us at [email protected].

The ASU California Center is inclusive and accessible for all. A platform wheelchair lift is available at our main entrance via Broadway (ground level). Upon checking in for the event, please inform Zócalo staff if you need assistance, or contact [email protected] for additional information.