Malcolm London

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

Yusef Komunyakaa

Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet & Professor at NYU

Al Letson

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

Arielle Estoria

Actor, Poet, & Author of "The Unfolding"

Arielle Estoria Speaker Reel

Joan 'Lyric' Leslie

Author, Slam poet, Back-to-back Queen of the South Poetry Slam Champion

Amanda Gorman

Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of the U.S.

Aaron Samuels

Co-Founder & COO of Blavity

Morgan Jerkins​

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

Brittney Grimes

Writer, Poet, Motivational Speaker, Violinist & Published Author

Daniel Beaty

Award-Winning Writer, Composer & Performer

Will Smith

Actor, Producer, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist & Author

Fred D. Gray

Veteran Civil Rights Attorney; Represented Rosa Parks & Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Black Ice

Award-Winning Spoken Word Artist

Sonia Sanchez

Renowned Scholar, Poet, Playwright & Activist

John Gray

Christian Comedian, Pastor & Author; Star of "The Book of John Gray"

Wyclef Jean

Grammy Award Winning Musician, Formerly in Band "The Fugees"

Brian C. Johnson

Brian is nationally recognized for his energetic, interactive workshops and seminars.

Emmett G. Price

Musician, African American Music Expert & Author

Fonzworth Bentley

Musician, Author and TV personality; MTV's "From G's to Gents"

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Renowned African Novelist & Speaker

Coach Ken Carter

Coach, Author, Educator & Inspiration for the Film "Coach Carter"

Bruce George

Poet / Activist

Montel Williams

Emmy Award-Winning Talk Show Host; Multiple Sclerosis Survivor; Health Equity & Veteran Advocate

Dr. Cornel West

Philosopher, Professor, Political Activist & Author of "Race Matters"; 2024 People's Party Presidential Candidate

Clifton L. Taulbert

Author, Business Consultant, & Speaker; Best Known for "Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored"

Darryl Strawberry

Former American Major League Baseball Outfielder

Stephen A. Smith

Sports Journalist, Analyst & Talk Show Host Known for "First Take"

Tavis Smiley

Broadcaster, Author, Publisher, Advocate, and Philanthropist

Amanda Seales

Poet, Spoken Word Artist & Media Personality Known for HBO's "Insecure;" Anti-Smoking Activist

Ishmael Reed

Novelist, Poet & Playwright