Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Jeffery Robinson to keynote New Detroit racial equality conference in October

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi (New Detroit)

Best-selling author and historian Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and racial justice activist Jeffery Robinson will serve as the keynote speakers for an October conference on racial equality being held in Detroit.

New Detroit, the racial equity organization that works to “dismantle racism” in Metro Detroit, is hosting Just Lead: Advancing Racial Equity, a two-day hybrid conference that will provide leaders with up-to-date information on key issues related to racial equity and equip them with motivation, tools, and support to advance racial equity individually and collectively. The event will be held October 13-14 at the Detroit Marriott.

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Kendi, the author of the New York Times bestseller How to Be an Antiracist, will be the keynote speaker. Former Michigan gubernatorial candidate, author and physician Dr. Abdul El-Sayed will also speak at the conference.

Robinson’s The Who We Are Project is an outgrowth of a talk that he has been giving for the past 10 years on the history of anti-Black racism and the myth of white supremacy in the United States. His Netflix feature-length documentary film, Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America challenges the dominant narrative of our nation’s founding, demonstrating how slavery’s legacy has led to persistent and abiding racial inequality, and promoting education, discourse, and change.

“The roster of speakers for this conference are an impressive cadre of voices who not only understand that racial inequity is a national issue but are committed to create an equitable and just society that unites us all beyond any differences we may have,” said New Detroit’s president and CEO Michael Rafferty. “These two days of presentations and dialogues will be impactful for organizations dedicated to true equity and individuals committed to antiracism and tearing down systemic racism.”

Registration is open now with discounted early registration until August 31. New Detroit is dedicated to providing opportunities to this conference on a sliding scale. Register for the in-person and virtual tickets at newdetroit.org.


About the Author

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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