Speaking at New Haven Public Library - Stetson Branch, Judge Clifton Graves draws powerful connections between Ray Bradbury's 1953 vision of censorship and book burning in Fahrenheit 451 and contemporary concerns about democratic institutions, media manipulation, and civic engagement.
In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Judge Graves explores how dystopian themes from literature have become reality for many Americans throughout history—from the suppression of literacy during slavery to the McCarthy Era's political persecution to today's ongoing struggles with book banning and institutional control. He shares personal family history, including stories of his great-grandfather, one of the first African American U.S. Deputy Marshals, while connecting historical patterns to present-day challenges.