Intercultural
African-American
African-American:
Creator of grown™ & Wife of Ray Allen
Shannon Allen is the creator of grown™, the first 100 percent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic certified fast-food restaurant with a drive thru on the East Coast.
Maggie Anderson and her family lived exclusively off black business and talent in what they called "The Empowerment Experiment (EE)." She documented her family's journey in Our Black Year.
Mississippi State Representative
The youngest African American ever elected to Legislature, Rep. Jeramey Anderson inspires and empowers audiences to make a difference by reaching their highest potential, and shares why education can help one succeed.
Emmy & Golden Globe Nominated Actor
Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor, Anthony Anderson starred in and executive produced ABC’s multi-award nominated sitcom black-ish where he portrayed Andre “Dre” Johnson.
Poet, Author & Millennial Advocate
Azure Antoinette uses performance poetry to explore some of life's most significant topics, including gender, ambition, aging, beauty, alienation, relationships, the effects of technology on culture and more.
Grammy Award-Winning Singer
Born in Denver and later relocating to Atlanta as a teen, India.Arie went from “singing under a tree in the park” to the Grammy Awards stage in five years. She invites audiences to join her in a Songversation.
First African American Female Combat Pilot
In only three years, Vernice Armour went from beat cop to America's first African American fighter pilot. She went on to create the Zero to Breakthrough Success Plan.
CEO of Armstrong Consulting, Retired Police Chief & Author of, I'm Done Here!
Jason P. Armstrong is a retired police chief and nationally recognized leader with over two decades of experience driving organizational transformation in high-stakes environments.
Broadcaster, Musician & Social Entrepreneur
Musician, actor, activist and speaker Derrick Ashong is host of "D.N.A." on FUSION, and former host of "The Derrick Ashong Experience" and Al Jazeera English's The Stream.
Rapper
With his dedication to lyrical craft, roaring tracks and b-boy stance, speaker David Banner is one of the most gifted rappers to emerge from below the Mason-Dixon line
Co-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign & NYT Best-Selling Author
The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is the President and Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach; Co- Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign; Bishop with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries; and Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary.
Former Editor in Chief of Ebony, Teen People and Honey Magazines
An award-winning media executive and brand architect, speaker Amy DuBois Barnett is of one of our nation's premier curators of American popular culture.
Award-Winning Actress, Director & Executive Producer
Angela Bassett is known for her emotional performances on screen in such films as Malcolm X and How Stella Got Her Groove Back. She offers a powerful, inspirational message to women.
Award-Winning Multidisciplinary Artist, Writer & Cultural Worker
Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, writer, pedagogue, and cultural worker based in Philadelphia PA.
Award-Winning Filmmaker
Award winning producer/director Keith Beauchamp attended Southern University in Baton Rouge where he studied Criminal Justice with the intention of becoming a Civil Rights Attorney
Actress
Named one of People Magazine’s highly-coveted 50 Most Beautiful in 2014, Haitian-born actress Garcelle Beauvais immigrated to the United States at the age of seven and has since charmed audiences with her talent.
Theologian, Essayist & Social Media Influencer
Candice Marie Benbow is a theologian and essayist whose work lies at the intersections of beauty, faith, feminism and culture. As a public educator, Candice cares about bridging the gap between the academy and community through digital projects.
18th U.S. Surgeon General & Healthcare Disparity Expert
A leader in fighting health disparities and developing innovative community-based health strategies and systems for low-income communities, Regina Benjamin is best known for her service as U.S. Surgeon General from 2009-2013.
Author, Educator & Social Activist
An expert on cultural diversity, Dr. Bertice Berry is an inspirational and humorous motivator who empowers people to improve their lives. She is the best-selling author of The Ties That Bind.
Hip-Hop Artist & Actor
Dante Smith, the talented urban artistic visionary who goes by the pseudonym Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), is regarded as one of the world's most renowned and prolific lyricists.
Social Services Advocate, Community Activist
A vibrant community activist, Lonise Bias has turned the losses of her two sons (including basketball star Len Bias) into a calling to help remedy the social ills of today.
Inclusion & Belonging Specialist
A former cast member of MTV's Real World, Mohammed Bilal is a diversity consultant, musician and poet who has delivered diversity presentations and workshops worldwide to the likes of Lucent, Progressive and Boston College.
Mother of Olympic Gold Medalist Noah Lyles & Certified Life Coach
30.6 million! That is the amount of people who watched the Paris 2024 Olympics on television. Keisha Caine Bishop was arguably the “Mom of the Olympic Games.”
New York Times Best-Selling Author & Award-Winning Historian
Dr. Keisha N. Blain is one of the most innovative and influential young historians of her generation. Her research and writing examine the dynamics of race, gender, and politics in both national and global perspectives.
First African American Astronaut
As the first African American astronaut, Guion S. Bluford logged over 688 hours in space. He is now president of the Aerospace Technology Group.
Plays “Nessarose” in Universal’s Wicked Duology, PRWeek’s Communicator of the Year & Inspirational Changemaker
Marissa Bode is a groundbreaking actor and disability advocate who made her feature-film debut as principal character Nessarose in Universal’s Wicked duology, directed by Jon M. Chu.
"The Notorious Ph.D."
Dr. Todd Boyd, a.k.a. “Notorious Ph.D.,” is the Katherine and Frank Price Endowed Chair for the Study of Race and Popular Culture and Professor of Cinema and Media Studies in the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.
Former Chief Medical Officer, American Cancer Society
Dr. Otis W. Brawley, the former chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, is responsible for promoting the goals of cancer prevention, early detection, and quality treatment through cancer research and education.
NAACP Board of Directors Chairman Emeritus
The youngest-ever chair of the NAACP, Brock works to secure economic justice, equal rights, and access to education and affordable healthcare for all.
Youngest Ever New York Times Opinion Writer & Host of ASK VIV Podcast
Bianca Vivion Brooks is a writer, artist, and designer from East Atlanta, Georgia. Born in Los Angeles and later raised between Atlanta and Oakland, Brooks was marked from an early age as an imaginative storyteller and critical thinker.
Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter
LaTosha Brown is an award-winning visionary thought leader, institution builder, Cultural Activist and Artist, and Connector. She is a nationally recognized, “go-to” expert in Black Voting Rights and Voter Suppression.
Dean of Harvard’s Renowned Radcliffe Institute
Tomiko Brown Nagin is a prize-winning author, eminent legal scholar and historian, dean of Harvard’s renowned Radcliffe Institute, and pathbreaking leader in higher education.