TedTalks by Black Speakers

If you want to introduce yourself to new ideas and incredible people, then I highly recommend TedTalks.

Over the years, speakers have shared first-hand accounts of people on the ground living and solving some of the world’s problems. Some of the societal issues we face are reduced to a headline in the media and not given real contest and attention.

Don’t just read the headlines. Seek to educate yourself and understand what is really going on and how you can help. Those reporting the news have no vested interest in bringing a solution to the table or forming allies with those who can make a difference, but you do.

In this post, I share 5 TedTalks by amazing black speakers. They discuss personal accounts when it comes to race, gender, diversity, language and business.

TedTalks by Black Speakers

1. The danger of a single story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a renowned Nigerian novelist and storyteller. Her talk on the danger of a single story highlights the narrow vision and perspective of those with a single view of a people, country or culture. This leads to misunderstanding and negative stereotypes from people who don’t know your lived experience.

2. We need to talk about an injustice by Bryan Stevenson

Injustice in the world is not new, but few people have dedicated their entire careers to bringing justice to many. Those who have been denied the fundamental rights that keep us functioning in a civilised society.

Bryan Stevenson is a human rights lawyer and the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. The organisation is fighting poverty and challenging racial discrimination in the criminal justice system in the US.

His team has exonerated thousands of men and women who have been unfairly imprisoned due to inadequate representation or evidence. His work in the US is changing lives and making true justice accessible to all and not just those who can afford it.

3. How to raise a black son in America by Clint Smith

“You might be friends playing innocently together, but society will view and treat you differently”. This is the advice given to countless young people from ethnic minority backgrounds. These views are shaped by parents who see the world their children have to navigate and want to find a way to protect them.

Clint Smith is a writer, poet and scholar who shares his experience of going up as a black boy in America and the advice given to him by his father to keep him safe. 

4. Color blind or colour brave? by Mellody Hobson

The topic of race and diversity in the workplace is an uncomfortable one in many industries. You want to hire and promote the right people but shouldn’t do so based on the people who look and think like you.

Mellody Hobson is the president of Ariel Investments and is an advocate for speaking openly about race and diversity in hiring.

Having a balanced and diverse workforce is better for business and society. You harness the insight from a wider group of people to generate new ideas and solve problems.

5. Three ways to speak English by Jamila Lyiscott

If you speak more than one language, you appreciate the challenges of switching between languages and trying not to blend words. This is proven even more challenging when you have to code-switch within the same language when in a corporate environment and when you interact with friends and family.

Jamila Lyiscott is a tri-tonged orator who celebrates the three distinct flavours of English based on the environment she finds herself in.

You can explore more TedTalks by Black Speakers discussing many topics in society

Check out other articles by Amazing Black people