With one of the most expansive rosters of diversity speakers, American Program Bureau (APB) offers influential and thought-provoking speakers perfectly suited for Martin Luther King (MLK) Day and Black History Month events. Whether discussing the state of race relations in our country or diversity in the workplace, APB’s
African American speakers deliver keynotes that will not only educate, but generate important dialogue, about race-related issues.
**Don't forget: MLK Day is in January, followed by Black History Month in February, and popular MLK Day and Black History Month speakers' schedules fill up fast. Check out our
MLK Day speakers page and
Black History Month speakers page for fresh ideas for your Black History Month and MLK Day engagements.
Michael Eric Dyson
Named by Essence magazine as one of the 50 most inspiring African Americans, Dyson is one of the nation's most renowned public intellectuals, revitalizing the role with the fervor of an ordained Baptist minister. Called "a street fighter in a suit and tie," he takes on the toughest and most controversial issues of ...
Marc Lamont Hill
An activist, social critic, and one of the nation's most notable African American leaders, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill is among a new generation of public intellectuals who move with equal ease between Faculty Row and Fraternity Row, "the street" and Main Street.
Susan L. Taylor
As editorial director of Essence, Taylor was the driving force behind one of the most celebrated black-owned business success stories in recent times. Her firm belief in personal empowerment and tapping into the power within motivates and inspired her employees to lead Essence to become a successful global ...
Julian Bond
Beginning with his pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, Julian Bond has always been on the cutting edge of social change and leadership. Legendary as the first black US vice presidential nominee and former Chairman of the NAACP, Bond continues to deliver a powerful message of equality, freedom, and justice with a ...
Herman Boone
When he became head football coach at T.C. Williams High School, Boone faced the daunting challenge of uniting a racially divided team, and through his hard work and dedication, he led the Titans to a championship title. Portrayed by Denzel Washington in the highly acclaimed film, Remember the Titans, Boone delivers ...
Juan Williams
A prize-winning columnist and former editorial writer for The Washington Post, Juan Williams is also a Fox News correspondent and a keynote speaker on issues including diversity, ethics, leadership, media and national issues. There are few voices as clear and intelligent on the power of diversity within today's ...
Geoffrey Canada
Profiled on 60 Minutes, Canada has achieved great success as President and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, an agency that fuses community building with academic achievement to improve the futures of inner city youth. Recently, President Obama launched an initiative to create “Promise Neighborhoods” around ...
Jesse Jackson
Former Presidential candidate, civil rights activist Reverend Jackson is one of the best known and most influential voices of American political and social activism. Called “the great unifier,” he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic ...
Charlayne Hunter-Gault
Hunter-Gault made civil rights history as the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Georgia. Now, as one of television's premier journalists, she challenges convention with her insights. A special correspondent for NPR based in South Africa, she has written New News Out of Africa, which ...
Wes Moore
Wes Moore is a youth advocate, keynote speaker, Army combat veteran, promising business leader and the best-selling author of The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates - contrasting his childhood choices against another Wes Moore's who was eventually imprisoned.
Mary Frances Berry
Former Chairperson of the US Civil Rights Commission, law professor, and esteemed civil rights historian, Berry continually defends the rights of all people with her actions and dedication to equality. From fair housing to equal opportunity to voter's rights, she has been a strong advocate for the disempowered and ...
Kevin Powell
As a talented political activist, poet, journalist, essayist, hip-hop historian, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Powell is widely considered one of America's most important voices in these early years of the 21st Century. An astute and enlightening observer, he comments on race, gender, class, and American pop culture ...
Ellis Cose
Ellis Cose is one of America's most renowned journalists and media commentators, as well as an author and speaker on several important issues of national and international concern. Cose is the author of Bone to Pick, The Envy of the World, and the best-selling The Rage of a Privileged Class.
Alvin Poussaint
A veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Poussaint is a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School who is renowned as an expert and educated crusader for the African American family within our multicultural society. He has worked closely with Bill Cosby, serving as an advisor on The Cosby Show, and has ...
Derrick N. Ashong
Derrick N. Ashong – or DNA as he is sometimes known – is literally the voice of a new generation. Whether heard in the eloquent expression of his thoughts on then-Senator Barack Obama (as seen in one of the most viewed videos of 2008 on YouTube), in his music (as leader of the emerging band Soulfège), in his lyrics ...
Kweisi Mfume
Former President and CEO of the NAACP, Maryland Congressman, and Chairman of the Black Congressional Caucus, Mfume is credited with rebuilding and revitalizing the NAACP. As a leader, activist, and seasoned political voice for diversity, he continues to follow his dream of impacting society and shaping a more humane public ...
Talib Kweli
Few hip-hop artists have made as profound an impact in as short a time as Talib Kweli. In recent years, Kweli has played a major part in bringing a sense of spirituality, social conscience, and moral balance back to hip-hop.
Aaron McGruder
Creator of "The Boondocks" comic strip and animated series, McGruder is a young, fresh, and outspoken political satirist who dispenses social commentary with subversive humor. In his insightful presentation, "Negrology, the State of Black America," he demystifies all aspects of the truth about where African Americans are ...
Johnnetta Cole
One of the most powerful well-regarded African American women in the US, Johnnetta B. Cole has a way with making history. As the first female African American President of Spelman College, the first woman ever elected to the Board of Coca-Cola Enterprises, and the first African American woman to serve as Chair of the ...
Ben Vereen
Few entertainers today are as accomplished or versatile as Ben Vereen. His legendary performances transcend time and have become woven into the fabric of this country’s artistic legacy. His strong sense of social consciousness make him an excellent speaker on overcoming adversity, black history, and motivational topics.
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