Asa Hilliard, Talib Kweli, Others Talk Freedom!

About The Speakers
ASA G. HILLIARD III, EdD. is the Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Urban Education at Georgia State University, with joint appointments in the Department of Educational Policy Studies and the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education. A teacher, psychologist, and historian, Hilliard is a founding member of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations and serves as its first Vice President. Dr. Hilliard has written numerous technical papers, articles, and books on testing, Ancient African History, teaching strategies, public policy, cultural styles, and child growth and development. Dr. Hilliard is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Outstanding Scholarship Award from the Association of Black Psychologists and the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Association of Teachers of Education.

JILL SOFFIYAH ELIJAH, ESQ. serves as Deputy Director of the Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) at Harvard Law School. In her capacity as Deputy Director at CJI, she is responsible for leading the fulfillment, development and expansion of the Institute’s work to address the urgent needs of the powerless, voiceless and indigent in the criminal justice system. Prof. Elijah has authored several articles and publications based on her research of the U.S. criminal justice and prison systems. She has represented numerous political prisoners and social activists over the past 22 years. In 2001, Ms. Elijah was awarded a Revson Fellowship at Columbia University.

TALIB KWELI is one of the few hip hop artists making commercially viable music that matters. The Brooklyn-born Kweli has been able to educate and entertain simultaneously. “The vast majority of my subject matter focuses on black self-love, black self esteem, black self worth….That translates to other communities because if you’re a human being, it doesn't matter what color you're talking about. You’ve been through some sort of struggle and you can apply it to your own life.” He is also one half of Black Star (with Mos Def). Kweli, along with long-time manager Corey Smyth, launched Blacksmith Music, which signed an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. to market, promote, and distribute their artists' music.

LUMUMBA AKINWOLE-BANDELE is a father, husband, DJ and community organizer based in Central Brooklyn. He currently serves as a counselor and instructor for the Special Programs/SEEK department at Medgar Evers College/CUNY. Lumumba is a member of the New Afrikan People’s Organization and a board member and organizer in the Brooklyn Chapter of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM) where he “works towards the release of the many Political Prisoners in the United States.” As a representative of MXGM, Lumumba co-founded Black August: A celebration of Hip Hop and our Freedom Fighters Benefit Concert. Black August strives to support the global development of Hip Hop culture by facilitating exchanges between international communities where Hip Hop is a vital part of youth culture, and by promoting awareness about the issues that affect these youth communities. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Black Studies from City College/CUNY and his Master’s in Human Service from Lincoln University.