University Of Minnesota
The Black Students Union
The Black History Month Keynote Speakers
(1986-1996)

The Black Student Union hosted some of the largest programs for Black History Month from 1986-1996. Each year, a numerous list of sponsors donated money and time to put on programs geared towards educating the University of Minnesota’s students as well as the community about our rich heritage.

The programs brought together the biggest and brightest pillars of our community. The extensive list of distinguished guest speakers, who addressed the Black Student Union during these events, upheld it’s long standing commitment to the school and the African American community as a whole.

Below is a list of some of the illustrious speakers that have flown beneath the wings of the Black History Month Logo.

1. Dr. Alvin Poussaint
Harvard Medical School

2. Dr. Yosef A. A. Ben-Jochannan
Cornell University

3. Dr. John Henrik Clarke
Hunter College

4. Dr. Molefi Kete Asante

5. Dr. Ivan Van Sertima

6. Dr. Maulana Karenga

7. Dr. Sonia Sanchez

8. Dr. Na’im Akbar

9. Dr. LaFrancis Rodgers-Rose
Princeton University

10. Dr. Ali Mazruzi
University of Michigan

11. Dr. Ron Mc Curdy

12. Dr. Joye Hardiman

13. Dr. Barbara Justice

14. Dr. Leonard Jefferies

15. Dr. Kwame Toure

16. Dr. James Garrett

17. Dr. Iva E. Carruthers

18. Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu

19. Dr. Jacob H. Carruthers

20. Dr. Rose Brewer
University of Minnesota

21. Dr. Richard Majors

22. Dr. James Turner

23. Dr. Asa G. Hilliard III

24. Dr. Frances Cress Welsing

25. Dr. Nicholas Cooper Lewter

26. Dr. Edmund Barry Gaither

27. Louis Farrakhan

28. Sister Ava Muhammad

29. Reverend Albert Cleage, Jr.

30. Vivian Gordon

31. Chokwe Lumumba

32. William W. Sales, Jr.

33. Loretta J. Ross

34. Judge Bruce Wright

35. Reverend Clarence Glover, Jr.

36. Dhouruba Bin Wahad

37. Modupe Kemi Sais

38. Steve Cokley

39. Nkechi Taifa

40. Adjoa A. Aiyetoro

41. Askia Toure

42. Belle Hooks

43. Don Jackson

44. Beverly Manley

45. Don Rojas

46. Kris “KRS-One” Parker

47. Brenda Verner

48. Mahmoud El-Kati
Macalister College

49. Dr. John Wright
University of Minnesota

50. Kermit Eada

51. Andrew Jones

52. Reverend Jerry McAfee

53. Runoko Rashidi

54. Dr. Gail Plummer
University of Minnesota

55. August Wilson

56. Dr. John Taborn

57. August Nimtz