Every February, across the country, we celebrate the history and accomplishments of Black Americans. As we look ahead to Black History Month in February 2023, we reflect on Dr. Matthew Delmont’s words: “if DEI work is truly going to be at the core of an organization, […] you have to make it part of the regular day-to-day life of your organization, not just something you embrace during moments of crisis.”
Celebrating the 2023 theme of “Black Art and Resistance,” we are proud to represent speakers that continue the conversation beyond Black History Month to tackle the systemic racism that persists and push for racial equity and justice.
Dr. Matthew Delmont
Expert on African-American history and author of Black Quotidian and Half American
- Highlights hidden figures from Black history
- Explains why Black history should be studied and celebrated all year round
Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Author of Take My Hand
- Speaks on the importance of reproductive justice
- Advocates the need for laws protecting women’s access to reproductive healthcare, especially for women of color
Dr. Joshua Bennett
Award-winning poet and scholar of the spoken word
- shares the transformative power of the spoken word
- Unpacks the hidden literary histories of Black environmentalism, education, and resistance
Robert Jones, Jr.
Creator of Son of Baldwin and author of The Prophets
- Speaks on the intersections of being Black and queer
- Shares his experience as a Black queer writer in a white supremacist, capitalist, and patriarchal society
Alora Young
Spoken word poet and author of Walking Gentry Home
- Speaks on navigating Black girlhood and womanhood in America
- Shares the history and impact of spoken word poetry and generational trauma
Bryan Washington
Award-winning author of Lot and Memorial
- Challenges the norms in narratives with stories about Black and queer protagonists
- Speaks to writing about the Black identity, vulnerability, and the power of literature
Robin Coste Lewis
National Book Award-winning poet, author of Voyage of the Sable Venus and To the Realization of Perfect Helplessness
- Examines the history of poetic erasure within the context of race and post-colonialism
- Speaks on her research into the archive, art history, and race
Donovan Livingston
Educator, poet, and author of Lift Off
- Discusses the lasting impact of past segregation on America’s schools
- Offers his insights on how we can overcome racial inequalities in education
Ian Manuel
Advocate for criminal justice reform, poet, and motivational speaker
