Celebrity Speakers
MC Lyte
Undeniable queen of hip hop who supports worthy projects, events and fundraisers such as AIDS awareness, anti-violence and Rock-the-Vote
Lyricist, pioneer, icon, inspirational speaker, veteran and entrepreneur describe one of the most prolific and well-respected female Hip Hop artists of our time: MC Lyte. A pioneer in the industry, she opened the door for future female Hip Hop artists by daring to do what had never been done while doing something she loved. A role model to women and respected by men everywhere, Lyte never compromises who she is and consistently displays that a wo...
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Lynn Whitfield
Emmy Award Winning Actress
Growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lynn Whitfield first watched the likes of Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and Bette Davis in "All About Eve" from her grandmother's lap. She loved classic movies and with child-like confidence, she could see no reason she could not become an actress and some day play those same types of roles. Over the course of nearly three decades, the talent of the little girl who dreamed of being on the silver...
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Terrence Jenkins
Actor, TV host, emcee, youth mentor and
Terrence J is a young man with a master plan. From apprenticing with NASCAR® to working on radio and throwing some of the best social gatherings around, Terrence J has been preparing himself for superstardom and making sure that his life is the American Dream, blasted out of the box. Now, he’s using his hosting spot on BET®’s 106 and Park, the hottest music program in the world (airing in the US, Japan and the UK), to take his plan to the next le...
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Taraji P. Henson
Academy award winning actress
Taraji Henson earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress opposite Brad Pitt in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She co-stars with star and director Tom Hanks in Larry Crowne alongside Julia Roberts and Cedric the Entertainer that is set to release July 1, 2011. She starred in the hugely successful Karate Kid opposite Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan and in Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. For her role...
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Common
Actor and Multi-Grammy Winning Music Artist
With his Multi-Grammy Award winning music career and his continued work in film, Common has emerged as one of Hollywood's most sought after leading men. He has been seen on the silver screen in films such as SMOKIN ACES, AMERICAN GANGSTER, WANTED, TERMINATOR SALVATION and was most recently in DATE NIGHT and JUST WRIGHT. Prior to acting, COMMON rose to prominence as one of hip-hops most poetic and respected lyricists having recorded over eight...
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Lucille O'Neal
Author of Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go
As the mother of one of the greatest athletes of all time, Lucille O'Neal's journey is exceptional; but her story reveals that she is more than just "Shaquille O'Neal's mom." She is a woman you know; a woman you understand. Perhaps your own journey resembles hers. O'Neal has been a rebellious teen, a single mother, a wife, a college student, a divorcee and, above all, a woman of unique courage. Acquainted early in life with turmoil, O'Neal's ...
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Donna Brazile
Political Commentator and Chair of the Voting Rights Institute
Veteran Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile is an adjunct professor, author, syndicated columnist, television political commentator, Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation at the Democratic National Committee, and former chair of the DNC’s Voting Rights Institute. Last, but never least, she is a native of New Orleans. Aside from working for the full recovery of her beloved New Orleans, Ms. Brazile’s passion is encouragin...
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Daymond John
Founder of FUBU & Judge on Hit Show Shark Tank
A young entrepreneur, industry pioneer, highly regarded marketing expert, and a man who has surpassed new heights of commercial and financial success are just a few ways people have described Daymond John. Over the last 20 years, The Shark, Daymond John, has evolved from one of the most successful fashion icons of his generation to a highly sought after branding expert, author, consultant, and business as well as motivational speaker. Daymond...
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Jasmine Guy
Dancer, actor, singer, director, and writer - Star of A Different World
Actor-dancer-director Jasmine Guy has enjoyed a diverse career in television, theater and film. She began her professional career at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. Jasmine starred on Broadway in the original productions of Beehive and Leader of the Pack, and reprised hit productions of Grease, The Wiz and Chicago (as Velma Kelly). After years on Broadway and touring the globe, Jasmine landed the role of Whitley Gilbert ...
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Hosea Chanchez
Actor, filmmaker, and founder of
Hosea Chanchez stars as Malik Wright on the BET comedy The Game, a smart, cutting-edge show about professional football players and the women entangled in their lives. Chanchez's acting talent, charisma, and instinctive sense of humor have made Malik a truly multidimensional character: a star quarterback who is both a "ladies' man" and a "momma's boy." His portrayal of this brash yet sweet young man faced with sudden success has already won Chanc...
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Ilyasah Shabazz
Daughter of Malcolm X and Author of Growing Up X
(pronounced ILL-YAH-SAH SHAH-BOZZ) is an author, producer, and motivational speaker as she lectures to capacity audiences across the United States. Her coming-of-age Random House publication, Growing Up X, won critical acclaim, including an NAACP Image Award nomination, BET best book list, and United Press International book of the week. With an avid following of readers, two new releases are slated for 2013—a children’s book with Simon & Schuste...
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Kenneth Morris
Direct Descendant of Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington
Kenneth B. Morris, Jr. is descended from two of the most important names in American history: he is the great-great-great grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-great grandson of Booker T. Washington. His life until the year 2007 could be described as distinguished yet decisively disengaged from his lineage until Providence called. Today, Ken's career and life path are driven by a mission to end human trafficking and all forms of servit...
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Roland Martin
CNN Analyst
Roland S. Martin is a nationally award-winning and multifaceted journalist. A nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate and the author of Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith, and Speak, Brother! A Black Man’s View of America. He also serves as executive editor of the Chicago Defender, the nation’s largest Black daily newspaper. Mr. Martin is a commentator for TV One Cable Network also host of “The Rola...
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Phyllis Yvonne-Stickney
Best Selling Author, Custodian of the Cultural Consciousness Award recipient, Inducted into Black Hall of Fame in 1998
PHYLLIS YVONNE STICKNEY has longevity and staying power in the industry. She has been at the vanguard for many of the improvements to the Theater and Arts Festivals that are presented annually such as THE NATIONAL BLACK THEARER FESTIVAL THE ANTIONAL BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL THE SHADES OF BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL THE URBAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL, THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL among other contributions. She is a born leader. An ambassador of arts she has ...
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Nikki Giovanni
World-renowned poet and thought leader on black social commentary
Nikki Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. Over the past thirty years, her outspokenness, in her writing and in lectures, has brought the eyes of the world upon her. One of the most widely-read American poets, she prides herself on being "a Black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English." Giovanni remains as determined and committed as ever to the fight for civil rights and equality. Always...
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Harry Belefonte
Iconic entertainer and humanitarian
Harry Belafonte has been called “the consummate entertainer”- an artist in every field in which, he has participated - a concert singer, a recording artist, a movie, Broadway and television star and producer. Belafonte’s activity in the human rights struggle is globally respected. His awards and recognitions include both worlds, as artist and humanitarian. He believes that his work for human rights and his artistic pursuits give him the basis f...
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Randal Pinkett
Entrepreneur | Speaker | Author | Community Servant
Dr. Randal Pinkett has established himself as an entrepreneur, speaker, author and community servant. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a multimillion dollar consulting firm based in Newark, NJ, that specializes in information technology, organizational development, and public policy. Dr. Pinkett was also named the winner of NBC’s hit reality television show, The Apprentice, with Donald Trump. He emerged as one of 18 candidates...
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Since his stint as an intern at Music Director and host of CBS Radio's WPGC's Afternoon Drive, official DJ for the Washington Wizards and Spokesperson for their Charitable Organization, Wizards Care, Big Tigger has earned a name for himself as one of radio and television's most distinctive personalities providing hip-hop fanatics with the hottest music and performances from multi-platinum hip-hop and R&B artists. Big Tigger is universally regarde...
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Wendy Raquel Robinson
Star Actress of The Game, Producer, Director, and Entrepreneur
Audiences know Wendy Raquel Robinson as the sexy and feisty sports manager ‘Tasha Mack’ on BET’s #1 rated scripted series, The Game. This groundbreaking role has earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series” and three nominations for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.” With another record-breaking premiere and continued rating success, “The Game” has shown its staying power and has viewer...
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Shaun Robinson
Emmy Award Winning Journalist, Author, and Host of Access Hollywood
Shaun RobinsonEmmy Award-winning journalist and author Shaun Robinson is the weekend co-host and correspondent for the syndicated entertainment news show, "Access Hollywood”. Shaun is also the author of the new book, “Exactly As I Am: Celebrated Women Share Candid Advice with Today’s Girls on What it Takes to Believe in Yourself”. Born out of Shaun’s passion to help girls be more comfortable in their own skin and become tomorrow’s leaders, “Exac...
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Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sheryl Lee Ralph is D.I.V.A. Divinely Inspired Victoriously Alive!!
Internationally acclaimed motivational and inspirational speaker, award winning actress (DREAMGIRLS, Moesha), Sheryl Lee Ralph consistently creates a contagious positive energy with her empowering and thought provoking messages of family, faith and overcoming. Ms. Ralph has spoken at schools, universities, social organizations, churches and religious conferences around the world. Able to speak on a variety of subjects, Ms. Ralph also performs he...
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A woman with grace, intellect and individuality, Marie “Free” Wright is an accomplished media personality, television producer and philanthropist. She is best known as one of the original co-hosts of BET’s top-rated “106 & Park” countdown show, where for five years she interviewed the likes of Michael Jackson, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry and Alicia Keys. In October 2010, Free returned to BET to produce and star in “106 & Park’s” two-episode a...
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Angela and Vanessa Simmons are the stars of 2 Hit MTV hit reality shows: Run’s House, executive produced by P. Diddy and their uncle, hip hop impresario Russell Simmons, the Founder of Def Jam Records, going strong for 6 years in which America gets an insider’s look at the lives of the ?rst family of hip-hop, as well as their own MTV Reality Show Daddy’s Girls chronicling their jet-setting bicoastal lives as they navigate Hollywood and step out a...
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Joyful Drake is again working with Queen Latifah. Joyful stars as Tasha in the highly rated new BET comedy series Let’s Stay Together, produced by Queen Latifah. Season Two premiered January 2012. Joyful stars in the independent drama feature Bad Ass opposite Danny Trejo and Ving Rhames. Her character Amber is a woman trying to escape an abusive relationship. Joyful was recently seen as Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ girlfriend in Judd Apatow’s Get Him ...
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Angela and Vanessa Simmons are the stars of 2 Hit MTV hit reality shows: Run’s House, executive produced by P. Diddy and their uncle, hip hop impresario Russell Simmons, the Founder of Def Jam Records, going strong for 6 years in which America gets an insider’s look at the lives of the first family of hip-hop, as well as their own MTV Reality Show Daddy’s Girls chronicling their jet-setting bicoastal lives as they navigate Hollywood and step out ...
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Damien Dante WayansWayans was born in New York City; he is the nephew of iconic uncles: Keenan, Damon, Shawn and Marlon Wayans.Damien began his career in 1987 in Eddie Murphy's concert film Eddie Murphy Raw. He later acted with his uncle Damon Wayans in the movie “Major Payne”, which led to television roles in such primetime series as “New York Undercover”, “NYPD Blues” and “House MD” among others. Working on critically acclaimed shows at a young...
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Kevin Brown
Stand-up Comedian and American Actor
Kevin BrownStand-up Comedian and American Actor Kevin Brown aka Dot Com/ Uptown Kevin Brown/ Kevin "Dot Com" Brown /30 Rock Dot Com/ Dot Com: Kevin "Dot Com" Brown was a winner of the 15th annual "SCREEN ACTORS GUILD" award, for his portrayal of "Dot Com," in N.B.C.'s "30 ROCK (winner of multiple "EMMY awards" and "GOLDEN GLOBES)" and was on 30 Rock, the award winning comedy from its inception to the final episode Jan 31, 2013 (7 seasons) starri...
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Farai Chideya
Host of NPR's News and Notes
Farai Chideya is a multimedia journalist who has worked in print, television, online, and radio. Prior to joining NPR's News & Notes, Chideya hosted Your Call, a daily news and cultural call-in show on San Francisco's KALW 91.7 FM. Chideya has also been a correspondent for ABC News, anchored the prime time program Pure Oxygen on the Oxygen women's channel, and contributed commentaries to CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and BET. She got her start as a researc...
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Guy Bluford
First African American to Fly into Space
Guy Bluford, Jr., Ph.D., spent 15 years with NASA as one of its elite astronauts. Selected to be a part of the first class of Space Shuttle astronauts in 1978, Bluford became the first African-American to fly in space in 1983. He also flew on a Spacelab flight in 1985 and Department of Defense missions in 1991 and 1992. Upon his retirement from NASA in 1993, he logged over 688 hours in space and was inducted into the International Space Hall of F...
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You never know what Rocsi's going to do next because with every step she takes, something amazing happens! Though born in Honduras, Rocsi (Racquel Diaz) was raised and shaped in America. Her family moved to the New Orleans area, where Rocsi grew up, moving through her teen years and into her diverse love of music and culture. "My mom used to listen to Air Supply and Sting, and we listened to the music of the N.O., from Master P to jazz and bl...
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