African American
Find a Presenter
African American
If you don't see who you are looking for, contact one of our experts. We will help you locate the speaker or provide you additional suggestions. 1-914-537-5735 or info@pdaspeakers.com
Emergency Medicine Physician & Medical Director; Co-Author of "The Pact," "We Beat the Street" & "The Bond"
Dr. Sampson Davis was raised as the fifth of six children in Newark, one of New Jersey’s poorest cities.
Grammy Award-Winning Singer, Actress & TV Host
Dionne Warwick is a Grammy Award-winning singer, actress, television host.
New York Times Best-Selling Author & Award-Winning Historian
Dr. Keisha N. Blain is one of the most innovative and influential young historians of her generation. Her research and writing examine the dynamics of race, gender and politics in…
Broadcaster, Musician & Social Entrepreneur
“We’re counting on that one,” said Archbishop Desmond Tutu of Derrick N. Ashong (DNA).
Executive Vice President, Global CIO | McDonald’s Corporation
Daniel Henry manages the Global Technology portfolio and partnerships to drive business growth and transform..
Director of African American Studies Program and Associate Professor of History at the University of Florida
Dr. David Canton is Director of African American Studies Program and Associate Professor of History at the University of Florida...
Hall of Fame Speaker, #1 Rated XM Radio Host, Best Selling Author!
There are many motivational speakers, and then there is the one, the only, the incomparable Dr. Willie Jolley. He has been described simultaneously as a world-class, award-winning speaker and singer,…
Giving Hope to At-Risk Students
Prior to his career in education, Dr. Stephen Peters received a full scholarship and was a basketball star at Hampton University. Peters was inducted into the Colleton County Basketball Hall…
Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight UFC World Championship
Daniel is one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history. A former two-division world champion, DC held the heavyweight and light heavyweight world championships simultaneously. He is also an…
Miss USA (2016), Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, President and CEO of the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN)
Deshauna Barber is a former Miss USA and award-winning international speaker, coach, and entrepreneur with a bold approach to inspiring and encouraging her audience. Deshauna uses her experience as an…
Head Football Coach at Jackson State University
Pro Football Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders, is the 21st Head Football Coach at Jackson State University and can currently be seen across several NFL Network television series, including 21st…
Fashion Innovator
A New York Times bestselling author and global fashion icon with a remarkable rags to riches story, Dapper Dan pioneered streetwear in the early 1980s with his eponymous store on 125th Street.
Political Contributor, CBS News
Deval Patrick served two terms as the 71st governor of Massachusetts. An accomplished executive, passionate leader and gifted orator, Deval Patrick will capture—and hold—the attention of any audience.
Legendary Baseball Player and Manager
Dusty Baker’s record-setting career as a Major League Baseball manager is legendary- Dusty was the first National League manager to earn "Manager of the Year" honors three times.
Co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and Brooklyn native. She is a founder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for coastal cities, and co-creator…
Star, FX's "Snowfall"
Damson Idris currently stars on the hit FX series Snowfall. He can also be seen as the star of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s film FARMING
Award-Winning Actress, "Orange is the New Black"
Danielle Brooks is best known for her role as "Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson" in the Netflix Emmy-nominated series, “Orange is the New Black.” For her performance, Brooks was nominated for a…
YouTube Star, Comedian & Mental Health Advocate
Demetrius Harmon is a singular and pioneering voice in mental health advocacy. Through his struggles with suicide and depression in his life, he has learned to channel his experiences to affect…
Analyst, ESPN's College Gameday
Desmond Howard joined ESPN in 2005 as a college football analyst. The 1991 Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl XXXI MVP joined the network a few years after his remarkable…
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, NFL linebacker, Author and host of of CNBC’s Adventure Capitalists
Dhani Jones is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, NFL linebacker, author and host who began his career in the NFL, playing with the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals.
Power Forward, Golden State Warriors
Born and raised in Saginaw, Draymond Green long had dreams of playing for Michigan State.
Award-Winning Actor and Producer
With a resume that is as varied and expansive as it is rich in depth of the characters he brings to life, Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle is one of…
First to Discover & Diagnose Chronic Brain Damage in NFL Athletes; Subject of 2015 Film "Concussion"
Dr. Bennet Omalu brings to the stage a rare combination of humility and fervor, as he shares his story of going from humble beginnings in war-torn Nigeria to becoming one…
Head of Global Marketing & Communication, Peloton and Board Director, Public Health Institute
When Dara Treseder speaks, prepare to observe mastery in motion. Her ability to deconstruct questions of purpose, storytelling, and intent while constructing a way forward is a reflection of genius.
Arthur Ashe Courage Award Winner & Boxer
Bozella candidly discusses his tragic story of injustice and the perseverance, courage and faith that led to his long overdue exoneration.
Comedian and Winner of the Stand-Up NBC 2015
Offering a fresh and honest perspective that’s rare to find, Dulcé Sloan is one of TimeOut LA's Top Comics to Watch for 2017 and the Winner of the 2016 Big…
Dr. Helen Powell-Stoddart is a board-certified physician of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She began her career at Oakwood University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree studying Biology and…
Six-Time Pro Bowl Retired NFL Quarterback
A first round draft pick in 1999 by the Philadelphia Eagles, and the second player overall, Donovan McNabb has raised the bar with superstar accomplishments on and off the playing…
Acclaimed Poet & Arts Educator
Dr. Joshua Bennett has recited his original work at events such as.
Noted Author and 7th President of Dillard University
Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough, president of Dillard University in New Orleans, known for his writings on African-Americans and higher education.
Baseball Legend, Two-Time Cancer Survivor, Autism Spokesperson, Community Outreach Advocate, and New York Times Best-Selling Author
Darryl Strawberry is described as a legend by many who have been dazzled by the dynamics of his game, the power he possessed at the plate and the story of…
Teacher, Blogger, Author and Activist
Drew G. I. Hart is a professor in theology, an author, and an activist with ten years of pastoral experience. His undergraduate work was in biblical studies at Messiah College,…
Award winning Motivational Speaker and Author of All That it Takes is All That You've Got and All That You Got is All That it Takes
Dion Jordan is regarded as one of the most respected and engaging professional speakers on the speaking circuit today. A recognized authority on peak potential and personal development, Dion has…
America's First Black Female Transplant Surgeon
Velma P. Scantlebury, M.D., is the associate director of the Kidney Transplant Program at Christiana Care. She comes to Christiana Care from the University of South Alabama’s Regional Transplant Center,…
16th US Surgeon General
Sworn in on February 13, 1998, Dr. David Satcher became the second person in history to ever hold the positions of Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary for Health simultaneously. He…
Best-Selling Author and Fitness Guru and Trainer from "The Biggest Loser"
Dolvett Quince is a force of nature. As a veteran health and fitness expert and one of the trainers on The Biggest Loser, Quince has dedicated himself to “helping people…
Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter Activist
DeRay Mckesson is an organizer, activist, and educator focused primarily on issues of innovation, equity and justice. Born and raised in Baltimore, he graduated from Bowdoin College and has advocated…
Former Special Assistant to President Obama and Social Secretary
A Philadelphia native, Deesha Dyer’s unconventional story is woven together by themes of heart, dedication, and an incessant quest for excellence. After graduating from Milton Hershey School, a private philanthropic…
Award-Winning Artist, Activist and Philanthropist
David Banner, born Lavell Crump in Jackson, Mississippi, is a Grammy Award winning music producer, recording artist, philanthropist, civic activist and actor who recently appeared in Lee Daniel’s The Butler…
One of the Nation’s Leading Historians of African American Photography
Deborah Willis, Ph.D, is University Professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and has an affiliated…
Filmmaker and Founder and Creative Director of World Trust, Is a Dynamic Educator In The Field of Diversity and Racial Equity
Shakti Butler, PhD, filmmaker and Founder and Creative Director of World Trust, is a dynamic educator in the field of racial equity. She engages her audience with participatory keynotes and…
Recognized As One Of The Nation’s Top Motivational Speakers and Educators. Founder of the White Privilege Conference (WPC)
Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. has pursued and achieved success in academia, business, diversity, leadership and community service. In 1996, he started America & MOORE, LLC to provide comprehensive diversity, privilege…
Award-winning Actor and Performer who produces, and stars in one-man shows including Power on Earth, Roadhouse Lounge, and more
Award-winning actor Darryl Van Leer has been captivating audiences for nearly two decades with his one-man dramatizations that he writes, directs and produces. Recently, Van Leer co-stared in the feature…
Professor, Africana Studies, English and Comparative Literature, Cornell University
Dr. Carole Boyce-Davies is a student-first, Caribbean-American radically intellectual committed to social justice. Currently, Professor of Africana Studies and English at Cornell University, from the mid1980’s and throughout the 1990’s,…
Spoken Word Poet
Dwayne Morgan began his career as a spoken word artist in 1993. In 1994, while still in high school, he founded Up From The Roots entertainment, to promote the positive…
#BlackLivesMatter Movement, Cultural Theorist, Co-founder of the Hip-Hop Infused Blog Crunk Feminist Collective and Rutgers Professor
Brittney Cooper is Assistant Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Africana Studies at Rutgers University. She is a Black feminist theorist who specializes in the study of Black women’s…
Tuskegee University 7th President (2014-2017); W.E.B. Du Bois Scholar & Higher Education Administrator
Dr. Brian L. Johnson was the seventh President of Tuskegee University where he was appointed on April 28, 2014. He has held administrative and academic posts in the following capacities:…
The Duke Ellington Orchestra, now led by grandson Paul Mercer Ellington, which continues to entertain a worldwide audience while gaining international acclaim. In 2007, The Duke Ellington Orchestra traveled over…