Civil Rights + Social Justice Speakers

These author speakers challenge the status quo, fight for civil rights, and seek to transform the criminal justice system. Their talks reveal pathways to change and compelling visions for the future.

Ta-Nehisi Coates

#1 New York Times-bestselling author of Between the World and Me and We Were Eight Years in Power

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

National Book Award-winning historian and author of Stamped From The Beginning

Bryan Stevenson

Attorney, human rights activist, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and author of Just Mercy

More Civil Rights + Social Justice Speakers

Adam Benforado

Law professor and author of Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice

Brit Bennett

Debut novelist of New York Times-bestselling The Mothers, National Book Foundation 2016 5 Under 35 Honoree

Reginald Dwayne Betts

Author of A Question of Freedom, PEN New England Award winner, and national spokesperson for the Campaign for Youth Justice

Anand Giridharadas

Editor-at-large for TIME and author of Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World

Carlotta Walls LaNier

Youngest of the Little Rock Nine, civil rights advocate, National Women's Hall of Fame inductee

Jill Leovy

Author of the New York Times-bestselling book, Ghettoside

Amanda Lucidon

Obama White House photographer, award-winning filmmaker, and New York Times-bestselling author

Sarah McBride

LGBTQ activist and National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign

Shaka Senghor

Author of Writing My Wrongs and leading voice on criminal justice reform

Nic Stone

New York Times-bestselling author of Dear Martin and Odd One Out

David Treuer

Author of The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee and Rez Life

Isabel Wilkerson

Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the critically acclaimed bestseller The Warmth of Other Suns