CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF SHAPING THE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS MY SPEAKER LIST () 646.227.4900

Dean Obeidallah

  • Host of the National Radio Program, 'The Dean Obeidallah Show'
  • Columnist for CNN, MSNBC, and The Daily Best
  • Award-Winning Comedian, Director, and Producer
  • Co-Founder and Co-Executive Producer, New York Arab American Comedy Festival

Dean Obeidallah is a lawyer turned writer, national radio host, award-winning comedian and activist countering bigotry and misconceptions about Muslims and race in America. Obeidallah uses comedy, personal anecdotes, and myth-busting to share his experience of growing up as a ‘white person’, with all the benefits of white privilege, until 9/11 – when he lost his privilege and became an activist against Islamophobia. He is the co-creator of the annual New York Arab American Comedy Festival, as well as Stand Up for Peace, an event that brings Jews and Muslims together to laugh. Obeidallah also co-directed and co-produced the comedy documentary The Muslims are Coming! to combat anti-Muslim bigotry. He hosts the national radio program ‘The Dean Obeidallah Show’ for SiriusXM, and is a weekly contributor to MSNBC.com, CNN.com, and The Daily Beast, as well as the host of Salon.com’s Salon Talks, an interview show highlighting his unique perspective on politics and pop culture.

Obeidallah has appeared on MSNBC’s The Reid Out, as well as other MSNBC programs, ABC’s Good Morning America and The View, and numerous programs on CNN. His funny and informative standup has been featured on Comedy Central’s Axis of Evil, Comics Unleashed, and The Nightly Show. Obeidallah is both funny and informative, revealing our biases by being the living manifestation of the concept that in America, “race is a social construct.

 
Dean Obeidallah  headshot
Dean Obeidallah  photo 3
Dean Obeidallah  photo 2
Past Hosts Include:
  • Council on American-Islamic Relations

News Commentary - Zahid Quraishi becomes first Muslim-American Fed Judge | MSNBC [1:25] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Dean Obeidallah
Expand section

No Longer White: Race in America

In the years following 9/11, DEAN OBEIDALLAH lost his ‘white card’ and white privilege as America began to view him as a minority, resulting in death threats from Neo-Nazi hate groups. He uses humor to share his unique personal story, and answers questions about how to have productive and honest conversations about race in America in a talk that will be impactful for any audience.

Expand section

Countering Bigotry and Building Allies

Using facts and humor, DEAN OBEIDALLAH shares his unique experience of being a Muslim in America, counters negative stereotypes about Muslims, and offers powerful takeaways about how to overcome our biases – like making friends! His practical solutions for countering bigotry and building allies will resonate with any audience.

Expand section

How to Have Productive Political Conversations

In this funny and informative non-partisan talk, DEAN OBEIDALLAH reveals how throughout history, we’ve always battled passionately over politics because to Americans, politics has always been personal. He offers practical insights about understanding our past that lead to engaging and more respectful conversations about politics.

Biography
Expand >