West Seattle author Steven W. Bender is a Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Planning and Strategic Initiatives at Seattle University School of Law. Hewrites about the policies and issues involving Mexican–Americans and all of us. He’s also known to be somewhat obsessed with deconstructing popular culture messages about the lives and experiences of Latinos because he’s seen a lot of negative stereotypes. His latest book, "How The West Was Juan: Reimagining the U.S.-Mexico Border", was just published in July, 2017
This free book-talk event by 'Words, Writers & West Seattle' of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society takes place at 5 PM at at Barnes & Noble/ Westwood Village, on Friday, October 6, 2017.
As the author of "Mea Culpa: Lessons on Law and Regret from U.S. History" (NYU Press 2015), Bender is a former presenter for "Words, Writers & West Seattle"; he also wrote "Run for the Border: Vice and Virtue in U.S.-Mexico Border Crossings," (NYU Press 2012); "Greasers and Gringos: Latinos, Law, and the American Imagination, " (NYU Press 2005) and several other books on culture, politics, migration, history, and law.
Dean Bender is a national academic leader on immigration law and policy, as well as an expert in real estate law. Among his honors, the Minority Groups Section of the Association of American Law Schools presented him with the C. Clyde Ferguson, Jr., Award, a prestigious national award recognizing scholarly reputation, mentoring of junior faculty, and teaching excellence.
Born to a Mexican American mother in East Los Angeles, Bender's culture and upbringing in a Mexican American household informs his writing and passion for legal reform. An avid reader as a youth, he read over 400 adult-level bestsellers and classics each year from 7th grade through high school. An equally avid fan of popular culture, and a critic of its shortcomings, Bender infuses his writings with a connection to pop culture, while trying to instill timeless values of respect and human dignity for all people.
How the West Was Juan creatively approaches the current political stalemate over restrictive v. compassionate border policy by imagining a different U.S.-Mexico border. It has been referred to as “A Pandora's box" opened in the hands of a master of law, cultural studies as well as history. Playful, yet historically and legally researched, Bender's new book sets the boundaries of a new territory for the physical, psychological, moral, and spiritual borders of our country, as well as analyzing the accuracy of our traditional history books. Bender entertains with his kneading of geographical facts with history and current events. (quotes from Gabriella Gutierrez y Muhs).
"Words, Writers & West Seattle's next First Friday book-talk is scheduled for 5PM, November 3rd at Barnes & Noble/Westwood and will feature a former presenter, Molly Ringle, and her new paranormal romance book, "The Goblins of Bellwater" (Central Avenue Publishing, 2017).
