African American
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African American
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Educator, Social Activist and Author. Inner-City Youth & Education Advocate
Geoffrey Canada has been president and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, for the past 20 years. Canada is nationally recognized for his pioneering work helping children and families in…
Presidential Endowed Professor in Politics and International Affairs at Wake Forest University, Executive Director of the Pro Humanitate Institute, & Former MSNBC Host
Melissa Harris-Perry is the Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University. There she is the Executive Director of the Pro Humanitate Institute and founding director of the Anna Julia…
America’s Got Talent
Cirque Zuma Zuma has been described as an African-style Cirque du Soliel, combining the mysticism and magic of the African continent with the outof- this-world excitement of a theatrical cirque…
Internationally Esteemed As One of America’s Foremost Modern Dance Companies
Cleo Parker Robinson is founder, executive artistic director and choreographer of the Denver-based artistic institution, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. She leads a professional dance Ensemble, Youth Ensemble, a School of…
Comedian, Political Satirist & Host of CNN's United Shades of America
Called "the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years" by The New York Times, socio-political comedian
Brown v. Board of Education Originators/Civil Rights Activists
Cheryl Brown is one of three daughters of the late Rev. Oliver L. Brown, who, along with 12 other parents led by the NAACP, filed suit against the local Board…
Author of "Get Down" & "Disgruntled"
Assistant Professor of English at Haverford College Asali Solomon is the author of Get Down, for which she received the Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award, and Disgruntled. Previously, Solomon taught…
Co-Host of 'Good Morning America,' Fox NFL Sunday Analyst, NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl Champion
Emmy winner and Super Bowl Champion Michael Strahan currently co-hosts ABC’s Good Morning America and serves as an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday. This summer, Strahan hosted the top-rated primetime…
Author, Hall of Fame Wide Receiver and Three-time Super Bowl Champion
Super Bowl MVP Jerry Rice has compiled his list of the most iconic, strategic, and record-breaking moments in football history from the Super Bowl’s inception to today—from the Green Bay…
"The Daily Show" Host and Best-Selling Author
Trevor Noah made his debut as host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The Daily Show on Comedy Centra.
Founder Of Passion For Leadership
Lamarr Womble is the founder of Passion for Leadership. He was first inspired to become a speaker after he attended a National Conference on Student Leadership (NCSL) in Orlando, FL…
ESPN SportsCenter Anchor, Sports Journalist & Host
Cari Champion was named SportsCenter anchor in July 2015. Previously she served host of ESPN2’s First Take, where she shared the debate table with featured commentators Skip Bayless and Stephen…
Actor, Singer and Civil Rights Campaigner. Call Mr. Robeson, a play, which celebrates the life and work of the great singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson
The acclaimed British production Call Mr. Robeson, a play, which celebrates the life and work of the great singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson. The production, by Tayo…
Uplifting & Smooth Harmonies of One of The Nation’s Premier Jazz Orchestras
The Calloway family has been dazzling audience since the roaring 1920s. Jazz legend the late Cab Calloway started the family tradition and led one of the best African-American big bands…
Co-host of "The Talk" on CBS; Comedienne; CEO of Pack Rat Productions, Inc.
Sheryl Underwood is a savvy businesswoman, philanthropist and a multi-faceted, multi-media entrepreneur who is recognized as one of the most articulate, well informed women of our time. She is a…
Prominent Voice of Civil Rights, Social Justice, and Feminism
Tamika D. Mallory, an esteemed social justice leader, advocate and activist. A New York City native, this fiery, outspoken advocate for human rights and liberty has remained a consistent fixture…
Music Manager; Founder, Chairman and CEO of Atom Factory, He has Established the Careers of Numerous Recording Artists, Most Notably Multi-Platinum Grammy Award-Winning Artist Lady Gaga
The award-winning careers of Lady Gaga and John Legend, among others, are accredited to music industry professional Troy Carter. In 2010, the brand marketing strategist and entrepreneur founded the Atom…
Hip-Hop Crew
Massive Monkees are a Hip Hop crew that came together as a group of grade school friends who enjoyed dancing, playing and creating art together. 16 years later, the essence…
Former Stars of the Original 'Sketch-Comedy Show' on Comedy Central
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are the stars of Key & Peele, Now Comes To Your SCHOOL, a show that examines life in a distinctively provocative and irreverent way. Whether…
Co-Founder, Def Jam Records
Acknowledged as the Godfather of Hip-Hop, Russell Simmons is the visionary behind Def Jam, the legendary label that launched the careers of such artists as Run DMC, the Beastie Boys,…
Public Historian and Founder/Executive Director of The HistoryMakers
Julieanna L. Richardson followed a unique path in heading up the largest national collection effort of African American video oral histories on record.
Diversity Advocate, Writer, Motivational Speaker, Entertainer, Former Miss America and Amazing Racer
Ericka Dunlap first rose to national acclaim when she was crowned Miss America 2004 on the iconic runway in Atlantic City. However, that was not the first time she excited…
Award-Winning Reporter and Culture-Critic
Jimi Izrael is an award-winning reporter and culture-critic from Shaker Heights, Ohio who currently moderates “The Barbershop” for National Public Radio’s “Tell Me More with Michel Martin” and blogs “The Hardline”…
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…
Critically Acclaimed Author and World Renowned Speaker, Motivator and Educator
Eric Thomas, PhD. or “ET”, as he is better known, has taken the world by storm,with his bold & creative, high intensity, positive life changing messages!
Known as Black Thought, MC of the Philadelphia-based Hip-Hop group The Roots, as well as an occasional actor
Tariq Trotter has been rapping for 19 years, ten of which have been shared with his legendary crew
Drummer for The Roots, In-House Band Jimmy Fallon Band & Author
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, drummer, author, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, music journalist, and record producer. Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson is the drummer and co-founder of the Grammy award-winning hip hop band The Roots. He's…
Olympic Gold Medalist, Swimming
Cullen Jones proved that he is one of the fastest swimmers on the planet in 2008 when he became the second African-American in history to win an Olympic Gold medal…
Spoken Word, Hip Hop, MC, Performance & Recording Artist
Queen GodIs is an international (Poet, MC, Artistic Director & Performance Art Therapist) whose work serves a host of communities seeking transformation through art. With a holistic approach to content…
Leader of The Hustle Movement
James Chapman is a well-known innovator in both the civic and entrepreneurial community. He was nominated for the 2015 White House Demo Day for being Founder of Oil Drop; an…
Member of the "Little Rock Nine"
Ernest G. Green currently works at Matrix Advisory, an institutional asset manager.
Change Agent and Activist; Founder of Project Footprints
Andre Norman's mission is simple – to motivate others to make a change. Through sharing his life experiences, Andre’s goal is to empower those with a desire to make a…
Comedian, Actor, Writer and Currently a Sports Center Correspondent for ESPN
When New York Magazine tapped Reese Waters as one of the city’s Ten Comedians To Watch in March of 2009, few realized just how quickly his star would rise. First…
Educator and Historian. Founding Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture
Lonnie G. Bunch III is the director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Award-winning Author and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet
Pulitzer Prize-winner Natasha Trethewey served two terms as the 19th Poet Laureate of the United States (2012-2014). In his citation, Librarian of Congress James Billington wrote, “Her poems dig beneath…
Broadway Actor, Inspirational Speaker, Recording Artist, Entrepreneur, Author, and Nationally Recognized Storyteller
Charles Holt is a native of Nashville, TN and a graduate of Rhodes College. Charles is a gifted Broadway actor and dynamic speaker. He inspires audiences around the world including…
Founding Chair of John Jay's Art & Music Department, as well as an accomplished curator, author, and art historian
Lisa E. Farrington, Ph.D., is the founding Chair of John Jay's Art & Music Department, as well as an accomplished curator, author, and art historian. In 2010 she won the…
Mother of Trayvon Martin and Social Change Agent
Sybrina Fulton is dedicating her life to transforming family tragedy into social change. Since the death of her 17 year old son, Trayvon Martin, during the violent confrontation in 2012,…
Father of Trayvon Martin
Since the 2012 death of his son, Trayvon, in a violent confrontation, Tracy Martin has committed his life to transforming tragedy into change. Despite his devastating loss, Martin was able…
Academy Award-Nominated Director & Producer; Best Known for "Selma" and the Netflix Documentary "13th"
Ava DuVernay is a writer, producer, director and distributor of independent film. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, DuVernay became the first black woman nominated in the Golden…
Actor, Musician & Activist; Known for Fox's "Empire"
The multi-talented Terrence Howard is best known for his Golden Globe and Academy Award nominated work in Hustle & Flow, as well as for his supporting role in Crash, for…
Has energized almost two million leaders, educators, volunteers, and students worldwide with his authentic, inspiring messages of hope
An original Freedom Writer whose story is told in part in the 2007 hit movie, Freedom Writers, Manny Scott has energized over a million leaders, educators, volunteers, and students worldwide…
America's No. 1 Crisis Management Expert and Inspiration for ABC's Hit Show, "Scandal"
As a result of her wide ranging and ground breaking career, Shonda Rhimes, creator of ABC’s hit television dramas Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, developed a television drama about the…
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,…
Singer-Songwriter, Record Producer, Rapper and Actor
Trey Songz was raised in a military family in Virginia. As a teen he had started performing for his friends and family but never considered to pursue career in music.…
First Openly Gay Player In Major League Sports, NBA Player & Equality Advocate
Jason Collins, the first openly gay National Basketball Association "NBA" player, recently was in a Sports Illustrated cover story, Collins became the first active male player in any of the…
World-Renowned American Spiritual Ensemble. Composed of some of the finest classically trained singers in the United States, the group strives to keep the tradition of the Negro spiritual alive
The American Spiritual Ensemble, a critically-acclaimed professional group composed of more than 20 of the finest singers in the classical music world! The vocalists have thrilled audiences around the world…