[email protected]
As a journalist, filmmaker, and novelist, Nelson George has been chronicling the culture, history, and aspirations of black Americans for over 20 years. He has been nominated twice for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
The author of numerous books, both fiction and non-fiction, George’s work is centered around the African-American experience. Among his novels are the Blackboard bestsellers, Urban Romance and One Woman Short. Other novels include Seduced, Show & Tell, Night Work, and his first mystery, The Accidental Hunter. His non-fiction career began with The Michael Jackson Story in 1984 and has continued with a series of award-winning titles: Where Did Our Love Go: The Rise & Fall of the Motown Sound, The Death of Rhythm & Blues, Blackface: African-Americans in the Movies, and Elevating the Game: Black Men and Basketball. George also won a Grammy for his contribution to the liner notes for the James Brown boxed set, Star Time.
His most popular book, Hip-Hop America, a history of hip-hop culture, has been published in four languages and was re-issued in 2005 with a new chapter. He also co-authored rap mogul Russell Simmons' autobiography, Life and Def. George’s involvement with hip-hop continues as he is a consulting producer on VH-1's annual Hip-Hop Honors television broadcast.
George’s involvement with film dates back to 1986 when he invested in Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It. He went on to co-write the screenplays for Strictly Business with Halle Berry, and CB4 with Chris Rock. George also wrote the popular short film, To Be a Black Man, featuring Samuel L. Jackson. Additionally, he was consulting producer on HBO's Emmy Award-winning The Chris Rock Show for five seasons.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, George attended St. John's University, from which he graduated in 1979. He worked at the black oriented Amsterdam News before joining the staff of Record World magazine. In 1982, he began a seven year association with Billboard magazine as black music editor. George was published regularly in the Village Voice throughout the 1980s, and in the early '90s wrote a column titled “Native Son for the Voice.”
George recently wrote and directed the HBO movie Life Support, starring Queen Latifah who was nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Actress in a TV Film or Mini Series.
Speech Topics
Hollywood
Hip-Hop
Black Popular Culture
Books
News
Related Speakers View all
John Legend
EGOT Winning Musician, Producer & Philanthropist
|
|
Calvin Trillin
Author, The New Yorker Staff Writer, Food Critic
|
|
Sir Richard Branson
Businessman & Founder of Virgin Group
|
|
Van Jones
Emmy Award-Winning TV Host, Political Strategist & P...
|
|
Neil Giuliano
Gay Rights Activist & President and CEO of Greater P...
|
|
Jeffrey Israel
Author & Jewish Studies Professor at Williams College
|
|
Anna Deavere Smith
Award-Winning Actress, Playwright & Social Commentator
|
|
Ray Kurzweil
Chairman of Kurzweil Technologies, Inventor & Futuri...
|
|
An Phung
Multimedia Journalist
|
|
Brian Hoffstein
Contributing Writer
|
|
Cody Adams
Managing Editor of The Floating University.
|
|
Spencer Wells
Geneticist, Anthropologist, Author, CEO of Insitome
|
|
Jimmy Wales
Founder of Wikipedia & Wikitribune
|
|
Graham Hill
Founder & CEO of LifeEdited, Minimalism Advocate, Su...
|
|
Moby
Musician, DJ, Photographer
|
|
Montel Williams
Emmy Award-Winning Talk Show Host; Multiple Sclerosi...
|
|
Dr. Ian Smith
Doctor, New York Times Bestselling Author, Medical C...
|
|
Jacques Pépin
Master French Chef; Food Columnist; Cookbook Author ...
|
|
James McBride
New York Times Best-Selling Author & Musician
|
|
Gloria Estefan
Eight-Time Grammy Award-Winning, Cuban-American Sing...
|