Economic and social policy expert Heather McGhee, author of the best-selling book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, will present a Lowell Humanities Series Lecture on October 26 at 7 p.m. in Devlin Hall, room 110. The Sum of Us is a powerful exploration of inequality and the idea that racism has a cost for everyone—not just for people of color. An analysis of how the U.S. arrived at this divided point in time, The Sum of Us illuminates how racism is at the root of some of American society’s most vexing public problems. McGhee tallys what the country loses when its people buy into the zero-sum paradigm—the idea that progress for some of us must come at the expense of others. The Sum of Us also offers a hopeful message about a vision for a better America. The Sum of Us was longlisted for the National Book Award and the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. It was named one of the best books of the year by Time, The Washington Post, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Ms. magazine, BookRiot, Library Journal. McGhee’s opinions, writing, and research have appeared in numerous outlets, including the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Politico and National Public Radio. Her BC appearance is cosponsored by the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics, Park Street Corporation Speaker Series, the PULSE Program for Service Learning, and the Forum on Racial Justice in America.