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

Anand Giridharadas

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

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

National Book Award-winning historian and author of How to Be an Antiracist

More Civil Rights + Social Justice Speakers

Ken Armstrong

Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and co-author of Unbelievable

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

Rachel Cargle

Activist, speaker, and author of I Don't Want Your Love and Light

Dr. Michele Harper

Emergency room physician and author of the New York Times-bestselling The Beauty in Breaking

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

Ian Manuel

Advocate for criminal justice reform, poet, and motivational speaker

Sarah McBride

LGBTQ activist and National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign

Eduardo Porter

Economics reporter at The New York Times and author of American Poison

Kiley Reid

Debut novelist of instant New York Times-bestselling Such a Fun Age

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 bestsellers The Warmth of Other Suns and Caste