Secret Clubs + Power Boys: A Discussion on Veiled Prophets and Military Cartels

Join Devin Thomas O’Shea, Jasper Craven, and Robert Skvarla as they discuss secret societies, never-ending wars, and the ruling elite.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Devin Thomas O’Shea’s The Veiled Prophet is the definitive history of the Veiled Prophet Society in all its violence and pageantry, offering a colorful alternate history of the United States through the lens of the Midwestern elite. O’Shea follows the Veiled Prophet Society from its origins in the wake of the 1877 general strike, through the 1904 World’s Fair, to the height of the Prophet’s—and St. Louis’s—influence during the Cold War. The Veiled Prophet examines the unexpected ways this secret society has shaped the course of history, from the CIA to the Vietnam War to the assassination of Martin Luther King.

As the fight for the soul and streets of St. Louis intensifies, it’s more critical than ever that we expose the sordid history of these powerful, masked figures and their control over our democracy.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Since the dawn of America, the military has articulated some version of this pledge, solidly staking its claim on the monumental work of building the American man.

When investigative reporter Jasper Craven first dug into Valley Forge Military Academy five years ago, he uncovered an acrid strain of masculinity that was raw, violent, fiercely hierarchical, and quickly mutating out of control. Initially, he had assumed that military education was a dying, outmoded brand. But as he looked deeper, he found a sprawling, well-funded network featuring dozens of military schools, like Valley Forge and West Point, plus thousands of ROTC programs in public colleges and high schools that allowed the Pentagon to wield outsized power on education.

In God Forgives, Brothers Don't, an unflinching narrative, Craven explores how the military has come to define American masculinity and how it often fosters its most toxic traits. Beginning with the American Revolution, Craven shows how the birth of our nation required a new masculine ideal, crafted in the image of George Washington. During the brutality of the Civil War, Craven traces the parallel violence in military hazing culture and the deeply prejudicial culture at places like West Point, which reared Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and other famed Confederates.

***Register through Ticket Tailor to receive a link to the live-streamed video on the day of the event. This event will also be recorded and captioning will be provided.***

Speakers:

Devin Thomas O’Shea is a writer in St. Louis. His work has appeared in The Nation, Slate, The Iowa Review, Jacobin, Boulevard, and elsewhere.

Jasper Craven is an investigative reporter covering veterans, the military, and American men for outlets including The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Harper's, Mother Jones, and The Baffler. He's the author of the new book God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood.

Robert Skvarla is a Philadelphia-based writer focusing on conspiracy culture and fringe movements. His work has appeared in Contingent Magazine and Covert Action Magazine.

--------------------------------------------------------------

This event is organized by Haymarket Books. While all of our events are freely available, we ask that those who are able make a solidarity donation in support of our important publishing and programming work.