One Book, One U: Keynote Event with author Brit Bennett

The University of Miami hosts a keynote conversation with Brit Bennett, acclaimed author of “The Vanishing Half” and the 2025–2026 One Book, One U selection. Bennett will discuss the novel’s exploration of family, identity, and the influence of the past, offering insight into the story that earned national recognition, including longlist honors for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and the National Book Award.

“The Vanishing Half” follows the Vignes twins as their lives diverge after leaving their small southern Black community. One remains connected to the town she once tried to escape, while the other builds a life passing as white, concealing her history from her family. The narrative spans generations—from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s—examining the complexities of identity, belonging, and the choices that shape a family’s future.