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Jemar Tisby

  • Founder, The Witness, Inc.
  • New York Times Bestselling Author, 'How to Fight Racism' and 'The Color of Compromise'
  • Historian of Race and Religion
  • Professor of History at Simmons College of Kentucky

Dynamic, significant, and prophetic, Jemar Tisby is a public historian with the ability to explore racial justice solutions and cultural conversations that compel listeners to action. Tisby is the CEO and founder of Tisby Media—a visionary educational studio creating a moral, imaginative, and creative counterculture to disinformation, social injustice, and the politics of fear. He is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller, The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the Church's Complicity in Racism. He is also the author of How to Fight Racism, which won the 2022 ECPA Christian Book Award for Faith & Culture and is an Editor’s Pick for “Best Nonfiction” on Amazon. His latest book, The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, & Resistance was published in September 2024. In addition, Tisby is a co-host of the Pass The Mic podcast, and writes the Footnotes Substack newsletter, and helps audiences across mediums become lifelong advocates for racial justice.

Tisby received his PhD in History at the University of Mississippi studying race, religion, and social movements in the twentieth century, and in his sought-after engagements he brings history to bear with contemporary relevance. His writing has been featured in The Washington PostThe Atlantic, and The New York Times, among others. He is a frequent commentator on outlets such as NPR and CNN's New Day program. Tisby provides audiences with richly-informed explorations, unflinching moral insight, and clear paths forward to meaningful conversation and action for more anti-racist workplaces and communities. He has spoken for groups including Cisco Systems, Lakeside Chautauqua, and Alteryx, a data analytics software company, where attendees raved: “This is the best approach I’ve experienced yet on digging into deeper feelings and perceptions – Dr. Tisby is gifted” and “Thank you for this incredible and forever impactful session.”

 
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Past Hosts Include:
  • North Park Theological Seminary
  • Washington Post “Post Reports”
  • National Antiracist Book Festival
  • University of Notre Dame
  • Fernbrook Family Center
  • Alteryx
  • Methodist Theological School in Ohio
  • Lakeside Chautauqua
  • Seattle Pacific University
  • Tennessee Performing Arts Center
With the incision of a prophet, the rigor of a professor, and the heart of a pastor, Jemar Tisby offers a defining examination of the history of race and the church in America. Comprehensive in its scope of American history, Tisby presents data that provides the full truth and not a sanitized version that most American Christians have embraced.
More rave reviews

"I was very pleased with Jemar’s presentation—he was personable, professional, and incredibly well-received by the audience, earning not one but two standing ovations! During the book signing, he took time with each person, genuinely listening and engaging, which made the experience all the more meaningful for attendees. I highly recommend Jemar as a speaker and your agency to anyone looking to host a meaningful and impactful event."

-First Lutheran Church of Duluth Foundation

"In a word, it was fantastic. The reviews are in and, they are stellar. Dr. Tisby really is one of the finest speaker/teachers on racism/white supremacy/Christian Nationalism out there. Our crowd is a pretty sophisticated audience with high expectations, and Dr. Tisby exceeded them. We had over 500 on Sunday, and around 250 on Saturday morning which was wonderful given that it was a beautiful Colorado weekend. Jemar is delightful, adaptive, efficient, and punctual. All the things one wants in a guest speaker "

-Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church

"The MTSO community was thrilled to have Dr. Tisby among us. From the meal to the conversation, everyone was engaged."

-Methodist Theological School in Ohio

"'This is the best approach I've experienced yet on digging into deeper feelings and perceptions - Dr. Tisby is gifted' ... 'Thank you to Dr Tisby for the powerful knowledge!' ... 'Gratitude for the transparency and clarity' ... 'Thanks for bringing some humanity to these words and concepts we come across. Much appreciated.' ... 'Dr. Tisby, thank you for this incredible and forever impactful session. I ordered your book and can't wait to read and share with my family and friends. God bless you and your wisdom and truth!' ... 'Thank you ALL for this session. So powerful and insightful!' -Crowd comments from Alteryx"

-Alteryx

"The event was great. Everyone was so grateful and appreciative to be able to hear Mr. Tisby speak."

-Fernbrook Family Center
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Jemar Tisby: The Color of Compromise: Racism and Complicity in the Church | Advent Next Theological Podcast - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Jemar Tisby
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Author Talk: ‘The Spirit of Justice: Stories of Race, Faith, & Resistance’

Historian and New York Times bestselling author Dr. JEMAR TISBY draws on his book The Spirit of Justice: Stories of Race, Faith, & Resistance in this riveting presentation on the eternal wellspring of hope breaking the bonds of oppression and inspiring a legacy of liberation. Laying out the steps towards unleashing a spirit of justice, Dr. Tisby shares empowering stories of people who opposed racism, how they did it, what it cost, and what they gained for themselves and others.

Information on book buys and signings is available upon request.

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Author Talk: 'How to Fight Racism'

Once you’re convinced that racism is a problem, what do you do about it? This talk answers that question. Based on a unique model called the A.R.C. of Racial Justice, this talk prioritizes the practical. You will walk away with concrete strategies and a theoretical framework for addressing racial injustice today. This talk pairs well with JEMAR TISBY’s book, How to Fight Racism

Information on book buys and signings is available upon request.

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Building an Anti-Racist Corporate Culture

Historian and New York Times bestselling author JEMAR TISBY brings history to bear with contemporary relevance. From the historical context, to understanding what anti-racism means today, Tisby’s analysis is accessible for groups at any stage of the conversation. With his informative and engaging explorations, Tisby offers thoughtful strategies for organizations seeking to build anti-racist corporate cultures, including clear paths forward to meaningful action.

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Faith in the Black Freedom Struggle

While many people of faith chose compromise and complicity in the face of racism, Black Christians leaned on messages of liberation found in their religion to fight against oppression. This talk traces the role of faith in the Black freedom struggle from the Revolutionary era to the Black Lives Matter era and discusses the ongoing importance of Christian movements for justice today.

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“I’m Not Backing Off”: The Inspiring Life of Fannie Lou Hamer

Fannie Lou Hamer was born into a sharecropping family in Mississippi in 1917. From her earliest days she knew poverty and racial oppression. Her life dramatically changed one day when she heard a presentation at church about voting rights and became an activist herself. Rising to national prominence as an advocate for Black voting rights and economic uplift, her example of faith and courage provides a model for how to pursue freedom in the present day.

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How to Survive as a PoC at a PWI

Being a person of color (PoC) at a predominantly white institution (PWI) can be a lonely and wearisome experience. Drawing on his years within various PWIs, JEMAR TISBY explains how to maneuver in such environments and work for positive change while there. He incorporates elements of racial identity development, US history, and personal experience to empower racial and ethnic minorities to be agents of positive change in their organizations.

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How to Talk to Your Kids about Race

Many of us wonder how we can talk to our children and other young people about race. The topic is so sensitive, it can be graphic, and it is always sobering. In this talk JEMAR TISBY will speak from his experiences as a middle school teacher and principal as well as a parent himself. He will bring forth insights from history and psychology to discuss how to talk to kids about race. He will also share some resources such as children’s books and possible excursions to help facilitate this important dialogue. You will come away with more confidence and more tools to equip your kids to be antiracist.

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Red and Blue and Black and White

From inflammatory comments on social media, to deliberately provocative statements from pundits, to an attempted insurrection—the gulf separating Republicans and Democrats is large and growing. JEMAR TISBY talks about the history of our partisan divide and how we got to the present-day polarization in our politics. Of course, this is a story that is closely tied to racism and power. In this presentation you will learn how legislators enacted racist policies to keep Black people and other people of color from voting, achieving economic independence, and mobilizing for change. You will also learn more about how to communicate with people across deeply entrenched political divides and how we can work at a policy level to enact much-needed change.

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10 Things to Know about Antiracism

The word “antiracism” gets thrown around a lot these days. But seldom do we pause to learn the basics of antiracism. In this talk JEMAR TISBY breaks down the word and the concept of antiracism with the goal that people would learn how to actually be antiracist in their own lives. We answers 10 questions such as “What does antiracism mean?” And “What do we get wrong about antiracism?” This innovative and practical presentation can be delivered as a traditional keynote talk or it can done interview style with a host asking the 10 questions while also leaving time for more questions from the audience. 

Books by Jemar Tisby
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Biography
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