Reviews Write New Review
Location
Booking Fee
Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
Virtual Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
[email protected]
In 1989, at just fifteen years young, Dr. Yusef Salaam was tried and convicted in the “Central Park jogger” case along with four other Black and Latinx young men. The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit, until their sentences were overturned in 2002. Since then, they have received a multi-million-dollar settlement from the city of New York for its injustice and have been profiled in award-winning films, including The Central Park Five documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon and most recently the Emmy award-winning Netflix limited series "When They See Us," written and directed by Ava DuVernay.
Over the past two decades, Yusef has become a family man, father, poet, activist, and inspirational speaker. He continues to utilize his platform to share his story with others and educate the public about the impact of mass incarceration and police brutality rooted in our justice system. He regularly advocates for criminal justice reform, prison reform and the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment.
Yusef is also a New York Times bestselling author, and recently released his memoir, "Better, Not Bitter.," detailing his journey where in the face of misjustice, Yusef found hope.
Yusef is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama (2016) and more recently has shared his story and stance on current issues on CNN, MSNBC, REVOLT TV, NPR Atlanta, FOX and more.
Related Speakers View all
Bakari Sellers
Author, Attorney, Political Commentator & Youngest A...
|
|
Nikki Giovanni
Poet, Educator & Best-Selling Author
|
|
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill
Presidential Professor at CUNY Graduate Center, BET ...
|
|
Tamika D. Mallory
Social Justice Leader & Movement Strategist
|
|
Hill Harper
Best-Selling Author, Tech Entrepreneur, Investor, Ph...
|
|
Angela Davis
Feminist, Social Activist, Professor & Writer
|
|
Ijeoma Oluo
Writer & Social Activist Known for Her Work on Issue...
|
|
Dr. Bernice King
Minister, Attorney, Author & Daughter of Dr. Martin ...
|
|
Clayborne Carson
Scholar, Author, Professor, Civil Rights Historian &...
|
|
Benjamin Crump
Civil Rights Attorney, Author & Media Influencer
|
|
Dr. Cornel West
Philosopher, Professor, Political Activist & Author ...
|
|
Lisa Leslie
WNBA Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist & Author of "Do...
|
|
Van Jones
CEO of REFORM Alliance, CNN host, Emmy Award-winning...
|
|
Ellen McGirt
Senior Editor at Fortune Magazine & "RaceAhead" Col...
|
|
Renee Montgomery
Former WNBA Player, Co-Owner and VP of the Atlanta D...
|
|
Michael Eric Dyson
MSNBC Political Analyst, Former Host of NPR's "The M...
|
|
Dorothy Roberts
Scholar & Social Justice Advocate
|
|
Bobby Seale
Political Activist & Co-Founder of the Black Panther...
|
|
Baratunde Thurston
Futurist Comedian, Writer & Cultural Critic
|
|
Leland Melvin
Engineer, Former NASA Astronaut & Former NFL Wide Re...
|