Leading Social Justice Speakers You Can Hire for Your Event

Introduction

Looking to ignite inspiration and drive change at your next event?

Discover the leading voices in social justice who can transform your gathering with their powerful insights and compelling stories.

Hire these dynamic speakers to elevate your audience’s understanding and commitment to creating a more equitable world.

Here are our recommendations for your event. Like one? Click the button below to contact us.

1. Ta-Nehisi Coates

Profile: Ta-Nehisi Coates is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for his profound explorations of African American history and culture. His seminal works, “Between the World and Me” and “The Water Dancer,” offer deeply personal and historically rich narratives that address systemic racism, black identity, and the legacy of slavery in America. Coates has received multiple awards, including the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and his writings have been featured in The Atlantic, where he worked as a national correspondent.

Expertise: Systemic racism, black identity, historical legacy of slavery.
Why Book This Speaker: Coates’ eloquent and powerful insights provide a comprehensive understanding of racial justice and the historical context that shapes contemporary issues. His ability to connect personal experiences with broader societal issues makes him an engaging and enlightening speaker.

2. Dr. Jennifer L. Eberhardt

Profile: Dr. Jennifer L. Eberhardt is an award-winning social psychologist and a leading expert on unconscious bias. Her groundbreaking research at Stanford University explores the ways implicit biases influence our perceptions and interactions. She is the author of the acclaimed book “Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do,” which delves into the mechanisms of bias and its impact on law enforcement, education, and workplace dynamics.

Expertise: Implicit biases, social behaviors, policy impacts.
Why Book This Speaker: Eberhardt’s research provides crucial insights into how unconscious biases shape our world. Her ability to translate complex psychological concepts into actionable strategies makes her an invaluable resource for organizations looking to foster equity and inclusion.

3. Eric Holder

Profile: Eric Holder served as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold this position. During his tenure, he focused on issues of civil rights, voting rights, and criminal justice reform. Holder played a key role in the Obama administration’s efforts to reform the criminal justice system, including reducing mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenders and addressing racial disparities in sentencing. He continues to advocate for legal and social reforms through his work with the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

Expertise: Legal reform, voting rights, equitable justice system.
Why Book This Speaker: Holder’s extensive legal experience and commitment to civil rights provide a powerful perspective on the need for systemic change. His deep understanding of the justice system and his efforts to promote fairness and equality make him a compelling and authoritative speaker.

4. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Profile: Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is a National Book Award-winning historian and the author of several groundbreaking books, including “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America” and “How to Be an Antiracist.” Kendi is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. His work provides a deep dive into the roots of racism and offers a clear framework for understanding and combating it.

Expertise: Anti-racist theory and practice.
Why Book This Speaker: Kendi’s work is essential for anyone committed to understanding and dismantling racism. His ability to distill complex historical and social concepts into accessible and actionable steps makes him an invaluable speaker for diverse audiences.

5. Shaka Senghor

Profile: Shaka Senghor is a leading voice in the criminal justice reform movement. His memoir, “Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison,” chronicles his journey from incarceration to becoming a prominent advocate for change. Senghor spent nearly two decades in prison, during which he transformed his life through writing and education. He is the President and Co-founder of #BeyondPrisons and a fellow at the MIT Media Lab.

Expertise: Mass incarceration, power of redemption, criminal justice reform.
Why Book This Speaker: Senghor’s personal story of transformation and his powerful advocacy for justice reform inspire audiences to believe in the potential for change and redemption. His firsthand experience with the prison system provides a unique and impactful perspective on the need for systemic reform.

6. Isabel Wilkerson

Profile: Isabel Wilkerson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of critically acclaimed bestsellers “The Warmth of Other Suns” and “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” Her work explores the Great Migration and the unspoken caste system that has shaped America. Wilkerson’s storytelling combines rigorous research with compelling narratives, offering deep insights into the persistent challenges of racial injustice.

Expertise: Migration, racial hierarchies, historical impacts on current injustices.
Why Book This Speaker: Wilkerson’s ability to weave historical research with personal stories provides a powerful lens through which to view contemporary social issues. Her talks inspire audiences to consider the long-term effects of systemic inequality and the pathways to a more equitable society.

7. Carlotta Walls LaNier

Profile: Carlotta Walls LaNier is the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine, the group of African American students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. Her bravery and resilience at just 14 years old helped ignite the Civil Rights Movement. LaNier is the founder of the Little Rock Nine Foundation, which promotes educational equity and opportunity.

Expertise: Educational equity, breaking barriers, civil rights advocacy.
Why Book This Speaker: LaNier’s firsthand experience as a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement and her ongoing advocacy for education provide powerful lessons in courage, resilience, and the fight for equality.

8. Emily Bernard

Profile: Emily Bernard is a professor of English and the author of “Black is the Body: Stories from My Grandmother’s Time, My Mother’s Time, and Mine.” Her work examines personal and collective histories, providing deep insights into race, identity, and belonging. Bernard’s essays and scholarly work have been widely published and recognized for their depth and clarity.

Expertise: Race, identity, belonging, African American life.
Why Book This Speaker: Bernard’s narratives offer a nuanced and empathetic understanding of racial issues, making her a compelling speaker for audiences seeking to engage deeply with the complexities of race and identity.

9. Dr. Joshua Bennett

Profile: Dr. Joshua Bennett is an award-winning poet, performer, and scholar of the spoken word. He is the author of “The Sobbing School” and “Owed,” and his poetry explores themes of race, culture, and history. Bennett is a professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College and has performed at venues such as the White House and the Sundance Film Festival.

Expertise: Spoken word, cultural history, poetry.
Why Book This Speaker: Bennett’s powerful use of language and storytelling can inspire and educate audiences on the importance of cultural expression in social movements. His performances and lectures highlight the transformative power of art and poetry.

10. Prentis Hemphill

Profile: Prentis Hemphill is an activist, embodiment teacher, and group facilitator who focuses on the connections between healing, mindfulness, and social justice. They are the founder and director of The Embodiment Institute, which provides resources and training for individuals and communities to engage in embodied social change.

Expertise: Healing, mindfulness, social change, embodiment practices.
Why Book This Speaker: Hemphill’s approach to social justice through the lens of personal healing and mindfulness offers a holistic perspective on activism. Their work helps audiences understand the importance of self-care and community care in sustaining long-term social change.

11. Janaya Khan

Profile: Janaya Khan is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto and serves as an International Ambassador for the Black Lives Matter Network. Known for their compelling and transformative discussions on social justice, Khan is a black, queer, gender-nonconforming activist and Afrofuturist. They have been recognized with several awards, including the Bromley Armstrong Humanitarian Award.

Expertise: Black Lives Matter, systemic racism, police brutality, gender nonconformity.
Why Book This Speaker: Khan’s dynamic presentations and deep understanding of intersectional justice issues provide audiences with profound insights and actionable steps towards equality and systemic change.

12. Benjamin Jealous

Profile: Benjamin Jealous is the former President and CEO of the NAACP and the current Executive Director of the Sierra Club. He is also a venture capitalist and author. Jealous has been a leader in advocating for civil rights, environmental justice, and economic equity. His work has spanned multiple sectors, making significant impacts in each.

Expertise: Civil rights, environmental justice, economic equity.
Why Book This Speaker: Jealous brings a wealth of experience in leadership and activism across different domains. His insights into the intersections of civil rights and environmental justice make him a valuable speaker for diverse audiences.

14. John Bul Dau

Profile: John Bul Dau is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, whose harrowing journey from war-torn Sudan to refugee camps in Kenya and finally to the United States has been widely documented, including in the film “God Grew Tired of Us.” Dau is now a human rights advocate and the founder of the John Dau Foundation, which provides healthcare services in South Sudan by building medical clinics and training health workers.

Expertise: Human rights, leadership, refugee experiences.
Why Book This Speaker: Dau’s inspirational story of survival and advocacy highlights resilience and leadership. His work provides a unique perspective on the refugee crisis and the importance of humanitarian efforts.

15. Michelle Alexander

Profile: Michelle Alexander is a legal scholar, civil rights advocate, and the author of the groundbreaking book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” Her work examines the racial disparities in the American criminal justice system and has been influential in the national conversation about race and incarceration.

Expertise: Mass incarceration, systemic racism, legal reform.
Why Book This Speaker: Alexander’s critical insights into the justice system are essential for understanding the deep-rooted issues of racial inequality in America. Her ability to articulate complex legal and social issues makes her an invaluable resource for audiences seeking to understand and address systemic racism.

16. Winona LaDuke

Profile: Winona LaDuke is a Native American activist, environmentalist, and economist who has devoted her life to advocating for indigenous rights and sustainable development. She is the co-founder of Honor the Earth and the White Earth Land Recovery Project, which focuses on environmental justice and the protection of indigenous lands.

Expertise: Indigenous rights, environmental justice, sustainable development.
Why Book This Speaker: LaDuke’s extensive experience in environmental and indigenous activism provides crucial insights into the intersections of sustainability and social justice. Her talks inspire action towards protecting natural resources and respecting indigenous cultures.

17. Bree Newsome

Profile: Bree Newsome is an artist and activist best known for her act of civil disobedience in removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House grounds. Newsome’s bold actions and artistic talents make her a significant voice in the movement for racial justice.

Expertise: Civil disobedience, racial justice, intersection of art and activism.
Why Book This Speaker: Newsome’s story of courage and her creative approach to activism provide powerful lessons on the impact of individual actions in the fight for social justice.

18. Kenyette Tisha Barnes

Profile: Kenyette Tisha Barnes is a political strategist, activist, and co-founder of #MuteRKelly, a campaign to end the music industry’s support of R. Kelly due to his history of abuse. Barnes is also an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and a prominent voice in social justice movements.

Expertise: Advocacy against sexual abuse, political strategy, social justice.
Why Book This Speaker: Barnes’ strategic approach to activism and her work in advocating for survivors of abuse offer critical insights into how to effect change and support marginalized communities.

19. RJ Mitte

Profile: RJ Mitte is an actor and advocate for disability rights, best known for his role as Walter White Jr. on the television series “Breaking Bad.” Mitte, who has cerebral palsy, uses his platform to raise awareness about disability representation in the media.

Expertise: Disability advocacy, media representation.
Why Book This Speaker: Mitte’s personal experiences and advocacy work provide valuable perspectives on the importance of inclusion and representation for people with disabilities.

20. Molly Barker

Profile: Molly Barker is the founder of Girls on the Run, a nonprofit organization that empowers young girls through running programs that build self-esteem and encourage healthy lifestyles. Barker is a motivational speaker who shares her insights on youth development and personal growth.

Expertise: Youth empowerment, self-esteem, fitness.
Why Book This Speaker: Barker’s innovative approach to youth development and her focus on building confidence and healthy habits in young girls make her an inspiring speaker for audiences interested in education and empowerment.

21. Céline Cousteau

Profile: Céline Cousteau is an environmental activist, filmmaker, and the founder of CauseCentric Productions. She works to raise awareness about environmental issues and the protection of indigenous communities through storytelling and media.

Expertise: Environmental sustainability, indigenous rights, documentary filmmaking.
Why Book This Speaker: Cousteau’s work in environmental activism and her commitment to preserving indigenous cultures provide crucial insights into sustainability and the importance of storytelling in advocating for social change.

22. Beverly Gooden

Profile: Beverly Gooden is an activist, author, and advocate for survivors of relationship violence. She is best known for creating the viral hashtag #WhyIStayed, which sparked a national conversation about domestic violence and the reasons victims remain in abusive relationships.

Expertise: Domestic violence awareness, social media activism.
Why Book This Speaker: Gooden’s personal story and her advocacy work offer critical insights into the complexities of domestic violence and the importance of societal support for survivors.

23. Gabby Giffords

Profile: Gabby Giffords is a former U.S. Congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt in 2011. She has since become a leading advocate for gun control and resilience, working to promote sensible gun laws and support for survivors of gun violence.

Expertise: Gun control, resilience, overcoming adversity.
Why Book This Speaker: Giffords’ inspiring story of recovery and her advocacy for gun control provide powerful lessons on resilience and the importance of legislative action to prevent gun violence.

24. Yamiche Alcindor

Profile: Yamiche Alcindor is a Washington Correspondent for NBC News and the former anchor of “Washington Week” on PBS. She is a prominent journalist known for her in-depth reporting on political and social issues, including racial justice and leadership.

Expertise: Journalism, racial justice, leadership.
Why Book This Speaker: Alcindor’s journalistic expertise and her ability to cover complex social issues make her an invaluable speaker for audiences seeking to understand current events and their implications.

25. James Balog

Profile: James Balog is an acclaimed photographer and environmental activist known for his work documenting climate change through visual storytelling. He is the founder of the Extreme Ice Survey and has been featured in the documentary “Chasing Ice.”

Expertise: Environmental justice, climate change, photography.
Why Book This Speaker: Balog’s stunning visual documentation of environmental issues provides a compelling call to action for audiences concerned about climate change and sustainability.

These speakers bring a wealth of knowledge, personal experiences, and expertise to their presentations, making them highly valuable for discussions on social justice, environmental sustainability, and the importance of advocacy. Booking any of these speakers on social justice can significantly enrich discussions and inspire action towards a more equitable and just society.

Gotham Artists makes hiring social justice speakers and handling all related logistics straightforward and stress-free.

Our team of experts ensures seamless arrangements and top-quality service, allowing you to focus on your event’s success.

Reach out to us today to elevate your event with the top social justice speakers.

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Article last updated on June 13th, 2024.