Marvin Rogers, author of Silence Makes the Loudest Sound, A conversation between African Americans and the Republican Party, will be the guest speaker at our next meeting on August 9. In his book, Rogers turns his frustration with the “easy answers” into a captivating account of the storied relationship between this American race and American political party. Rogers’ perspective at the intersection of race and politics in America is so unique that it caught the attention of Washington Post syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker and NPR correspondent Adam Hochberg. Both journalists subsequently wrote and broadcasted feature stories about the author.

Rogers has served as a Republican activist and as an advocate for at-risk youth and the impoverished since the late 1990s. Rogers is well-versed in the strong Republican civil rights leadership of the late 1800s as well as the emotionally-charged disconnect that currently defines the relationship between African Americans and Republicans. Personal curiosity compelled Rogers investigate what happened between this American race and American political party between the late 1800s and the early twenty-first century. Silence Makes the Loudest Sound is the result of Rogers’ thorough research. In light of the viral interest that his debut book has generated, Rogers states, “the flood of responses that I’m receiving from all over the nation has utterly convinced me that the theme of this book is stimulating a conversation that America is very eager to have.”

The meeting will be held August 9, at 7 PM in Commissioner’s Chambers in the County Administration Building, 3111 East Marion Street in Shelby.