Celebrate and Educate with these Inspiring Speakers for MLK Day and Black History Month

 

MASAI UJIRI | Vice-Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors; Co-Founder of the Giants of Africa Foundation; Advocate for Young People, Social Justice, and Gender and Racial Equality

Masai Ujiri is a charismatic and visionary leader credited with driving the Raptors to its most successful period in franchise history, including an NBA Championship. He has received numerous accolades for his executive leadership, and few speak as passionately and authoritatively about the strategy, teamwork development, and entrepreneurial mindset required to execute a turnaround the way Ujiri has done for several franchises as an executive, coach and player. 

 

VENUS WILLIAMS | Legendary Tennis Champion; Entrepreneur; NYT Bestselling Author; Philanthropist

SERENA WILLIAMS | Iconic Tennis Champion; Serial Entrepreneur; Venture Capitalist; Philanthropist

 

VAN JONES | Political Contributor, CNN; Social Entrepreneur; President and Co-Founder of Dream Corps; NYT Bestselling Author; Former Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise, and the Obama Administration

Van Jones’ honest and poignant social commentary has made him one of the most compelling and powerful public voices in America. A U.S. media personality, New York Times bestselling author, social entrepreneur, and world-class change maker, his reach transcends age, race, geography and political ideology.

 

HENRY LOUIS GATES JR. | Award-Winning Filmmaker; Literary Scholar; Cultural Critic; Author; Host of Finding Your Roots on PBS

JOY REID | Award-Winning Journalist; MSNBC Political Analyst and Host of The ReidOut; NYT Bestselling Author

 

JENNA WORTHAM | Staff Writer for The New York Times Magazine; Co-Host of the Still Processing Podcast; Editor of Black Futures

Journalist, author, podcaster, and cultural figure Jenna Wortham is a thought leader at the intersection of tech, culture, and identity, offering engaging and incisive analysis to spellbound audiences across mediums.

 

RACHEL CARGLE | Public Academic, Writer, Entrepreneur, Philanthropic Innovator and Founder of The Loveland Foundation

SARAH ELIZABETH LEWIS | Academic and Thought Leader; Founder of Vision and Justice Project; Bestselling Author; Associate Professor of History of Art and Architecture, and African and African American Studies at Harvard University

 

GRANT WILLIAMS | Trailblazing NBA Player; Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association; Former Chess Champion

Professional basketball player Grant Williams is a leader on and off the court, as two-time back-to-back SEC Player of the Year and Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association. He is recognized by fans of his college team as the greatest player in their history, and has been called “a true student of life and basketball” by the Boston Globe. 

 

CHAD SANDERS | Creator; Screenwriter; Author; Entrepreneur

AYO TOMETI | Human Rights Leader; Co-Founder #BlackLivesMatter; Founder of Diaspora Rising; Coretta Scott King Center Legacy Award Recipient

 

AKALA | BAFTA and MOBO Award-Winning Hip-Hop Artist; Author; Social Entrepreneur

Akala is an award-winning hip-hop artist, writer and social entrepreneur, and one of the most respected voices in the UK's racial equity and social justice movement.

 

DAPPER DAN | Legendary Fashion Innovator; Author; Recipient of CFDA's Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award

TIKA SUMPTER | Actor; Producer; TV Personality; Host; Creator and Co-Host of The Suga Podcast Celebrating Motherhood and Sisterhood

MATT JAMES | TV Personality; Entrepreneur; Crypto Economy Leader; Activist

YABA BLAY | Trusted Thought Leader on Global Black Identity and Culture, Black Beauty Politics, Colorism, and White Supremacy; Scholar-Activist and Creator of Locs of LOVE, #PrettyPeriod, and #ProfessionalBlackGirl; Author

EDDIE NDOPU | Award-Winning Humanitarian; Renowned Disability Justice Practitioner; UN Sustained Development Goal Advocate

LATOSHA BROWN | Political Strategist; Award-Winning National Organizer; Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter; Advocate for Democracy and Civic Engagement

TORREY SMITH | 2x Super Bowl Champion; Philanthropist; Founder of Level82; Host of The Opening Drive

CARI CHAMPION | Sports Anchor; Journalist; TV Personality; Host; Podcaster

JIMMY BUTLER | Five-Time NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medal Basketball Player

DESHAUNA BARBER | Former Miss USA; Former Captain in the Army Reserve; CEO of the Service Women's Action Network; Advocate for Survivors

KAHLIL GREENE | NYT Featured Social Media Influencer; "The Gen-Z Historian"; Advocate for Racial Justice

TAYLOR CASSIDY | Viral Content Creator on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube of Fast Black History and Black Girl Magic Minute

TREY EDMUNDS | Second Generation NFL Player and Authority on Overcoming Setbacks, Motivation, and Positive Mindset

GINA BELAFONTE | Actress; Producer; Activist

DAVID ROBINSON | Coffee Farmer and Exporter, Founder of Sweet Unity Farms, and Advocate for Global Equity