Description:

Pop culture has weighed in: the rich are evil. From Succession to White Lotus, our villains du jour are the ultrawealthy, with their superyachts and dark secrets. But we don’t have to watch TV to find examples of the evil rich. Our president is running amok over democracy for his own enrichment; tech billionaires are now showing their true colors as craven, greedy opportunists. Meanwhile, ordinary people can barely afford to buy eggs. The proliferation of “eat the rich” bumper stickers is hardly a surprise. 

So. Where does that leave you if you a. have money and b. are a good person? 

In this three-hour, two-part class with the Redbud Writing Project, we’ll provide you with the space to answer that thorny question. We’ll combine a classic storytelling framework with readings, writing prompts, and guided discussions to allow each participant to face, head on, the uncomfortable experience of having good politics, good values, and a whole lot of money. This class will make judgment-free space for you to write about experiences such as navigating wealth when you have middle-class friends; how generational wealth colors familial relationships; how money impacts self-conception, and more. We’ll see how authors such as Eula Biss, Evan Osnos, and Taffy Brodesser-Akner have tackled these questions, as well as doing our own in-class writing and sharing. After all, creative writing is the perfect medium to explore life’s most taboo experiences–and what’s more taboo than talking about money? 

This class also comes with an action step. After our first two-hour session in June, participants will take the summer to work on refining their narrative. In September, we’ll reconvene for sharing and feedback, and at the end of that session, we’ll be joined by, Chris Heavener* who will present on how telling your personal story is can be a powerful tool in taking steps toward social change and how to bring your values into closer alignment with your money. 

*Chris Heavener is a writer who comes from wealth and class privilege. He is the Senior Advisor to Development at Carolina Federation.

Dates: Tuesday, June 23, 6-8 p.m., with a follow up on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7-8 p.m.

Location: online

Cost: this class is free to attend but registration is required. If you would like to make a donation to Redbud, you can do so here.