Lancelot Schaubert

Novelist of "Bell Hammers," Editor, Performer, Artist Chaplain

Morgan Jerkins​

Contributing Editor at Catapult & Author of "This Will Be My Undoing"

Damon Young

Co-Founder of Very Smart Brothas & Author of "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker"

C. Nathaniel Brown

Multi-bestselling author, publisher, filmmaker, and motivational and inspirational speaker.

Jasmine L. Harris

Associate Professor of Sociology and African American Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio & Author of “Black Women, Ivory Tower: Revealing the Lies of White Supremacy in American Education”

Zakiya Dalila Harris

New York Times Best-Selling Author of "The Other Black Girl"

Minna Salami

Writer, Lecturer, Feminist, Gender Equality Activist & Founder of Award-Winning Blog MsAfropolitan

Nicole Dennis-Benn

Award-Winning Author Known for "Here Comes the Sun"

Michelle Duster

Public Historian, Equity Advocate & Award-Winning Author Known for "Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells"

dream hampton

Cultural Critic, Award-Winning Filmmaker & Executive Producer of "Surviving R.Kelly"

Ijeoma Oluo

Writer & Social Activist Known for Her Work on Issues of Race & Identity; Author of "So You Want to Talk About Race"

Taylor Mac

Theatre Artist, MacArthur Fellow & Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama

Taylor Mac Is Today's Yankee Doodle Dandy

Kimberly Drew

Writer, Art Activist and Cultural Curator

James Grippando

New York Times Best-Selling Author of Suspense

Kim Katrin Milan

Writer, Educator, Artist, Women and LGBT Advocate

Jason Reynolds

Critically Acclaimed Author & NAACP Image Award Winner

Lynn Nottage

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright

Stanley Nelson Jr.

Emmy Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker Known for "Freedom Summer" and "Attica"

R. Dwayne Betts

Founder of Freedom Reads, Poet, Author, Memoirist & Teacher

Faith Jegede Cole

Writer, Researcher & Blogger; Autism Sister/Advocate

Malcolm London

Young Poet, Educator, Activist & TED Speaker Known For "High School Training Ground"

James Dashner

Author of Many Children's Fantasy Series and Adult Books, Including "The Maze Runner" Series

Cassandra Clare

Author of the #1 New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal & Publishers Weekly Bestselling "Mortal Instruments" Series

Ken Kalfus

Author of the New Novel, "Equilateral," About the Centuries-Old Quest for Life on Other Planets

Stuart Dybek

Poet, Fiction Writer & Professor at Western Michigan University

Terry McMillan

New York Times Best-Selling Author Known for "Waiting to Exhale" & "How Stella Got Her Groove Back"

André Aciman

Best-Selling Author Known for "Call Me by Your Name"; Distinguished Professor of Comparative Literature

Al Letson

Peabody Award-Winning Radio Host, Spoken Word Artist, Playwright

Clayborne Carson

Scholar, Author, Professor, Civil Rights Historian & Director of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute

Trey Anthony

Award-Winning Playwright, Author, Producer & Lifestyle Coach