The Harry Belafonte Black Liberation Speaker Series: Donna Hylton, Yusef Salaam, and Shaka Senghor in conversation with Gina Belafonte

The authors and activists discuss race, justice and reforming criminal justice, prisons, and policing.

After spending too many years behind bars, Donna Hylton, Yusef Salaam, and Shaka Senghor have all become passionate advocates for reforming our systems of justice, policing, and incarceration—to make them more humane and to end the disproportionate violence those systems do to the lives of Black and brown people. Speaking with Gina Belafonte, activist, filmmaker, and Sankofa.org Executive President, they will discuss the work they've done, the work that's left to do, and the paths they've charted along the way.

The Harry Belafonte Black Liberation Speaker Series is made possible thanks to support from Kenneth Cole.

LIVE from NYPL is made possible by the support of Library patrons and friends, as well as by the continuing generosity of Celeste Bartos, Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos and Adam Bartos, and the Margaret and Herman Sokol Public Education Endowment Fund.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
 Gina Belafonte is a native New Yorker who has spent her life in the arenas of entertainment and activism where her professional work thrives today. Executive Director of Sankofa.org, a social justice organization, that educates, motivates, and activates artists and allies in service of grassroots movements and equitable change. Gina works with diverse artists, activists and organizations worldwide to promote cultural and civic engagement. She has lectured and spoken at many events, rallies and marches, issues ranging from Dyslexia, Nonviolent Direct Action, Black Women's Empowerment, Mass Incarceration and a cross section of social justice issues. An Artivist, Actress, Director and Producer, Gina has been a part of many arts and activism initiatives including being the lead producer of the award-winning HBO documentary Sing Your Song that explores the life and legacy of her father Harry Belafonte. Gina is the proud producer of The Many Rivers to Cross Social Justice Music and Arts Festival that brought together over 40 artists and 50 social justice organizations for a 2 day festival centering on voting rights, mass incarceration and poverty. She has collaborated with Task Force on INTOACT!ON, with For Freedoms on the 50 State Initiatives, the reimagining of Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms and the most recent For Freedoms Congress where Sankofa.org curated Town Halls, and more. Please visit www.Sankofa.org for more information.

 Donna Hylton is a women's rights activist, criminal justice reform advocate, author and accomplished public speaker who spoke at the Women's March on Washington in 2017 and participated in a video montage that opened the DNC in 2020. After her release from prison, she founded A Little Piece of Light, an organization named after her memoir that helps women re-enter society after incarceration. Donna's story shows the tragic trajectory of sexual violence and how it robs women of their confidence, self-worth and vision for the future. Her story also demonstrates the redemption that can come from confronting and reconciling with childhood abuse and taking personal responsibility for past actions. Donna spent 27 years behind bars, including two and a half in solitary confinement. While incarcerated, Donna earned a bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences, and a master's degree in English. In addition to her memoir, she was a contributing writer to Breaking the Walls of Silence: Aids and Women in a New York State Maximum Security Prison (foreword by Whoopi Goldberg), and Changing Minds: The Impact of College in a Maximum Security Prison. She participated in a public broadcast announcement We Are Not Who You Think We Are. 

 Dr. Yusef Salaam, at just fifteen years young, was tried and convicted in 1989 in the "Central Park jogger" case along with four other Black and Latinx young men. The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit, until their sentences were overturned in 2002. Since then, they have received a multi-million dollar settlement from the city of New York for its injustice and have been profiled in award-winning films, including The Central Park Five documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon and most recently the Emmy award-winning Netflix limited series When They See Us, written and directed by Ava DuVernay. Over the past two decades, Yusef has become a family man, father, poet, activist and inspirational speaker. He continues to utilize his platform to share his story with others and educate the public about the impact of mass incarceration and police brutality rooted in our justice system. He regularly advocates for criminal justice reform, prison reform and the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment. Yusef is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama (2016) and more recently has shared his story and stance on current issues on CNN, MSNBC, REVOLT TV, NPR Atlanta, FOX, and more. 

Shaka Senghor is the Head of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at TripActions. He is also the President of Shaka Senghor, Inc. and Founder of Redeemed Sole. His memoir, Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death and Redemption in an American Prison, debuted on The New York Times and The Washington Post best-seller lists. Shaka is a former MIT Media Lab Director's Fellow and a former Fellow in the inaugural class of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Community Leadership Network. His 2014 TED Talk was featured in their "Year in Ideas" roundup and has over 1.7 million views. Shaka is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2012 Black Male Engagement (BMe) Leadership Award, the 2015 Manchester University Innovator of the Year Award, the 2016 FORD Man of Courage Award, and the 2016 NAACP Great Expectations Award. He was recently recognized by OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network) as a "Soul Igniter" in the inaugural class of the SuperSoul 100. He has taught at the University of Michigan and shares his story of redemption around the world. Today, Shaka's priority is shifting societal narratives through storytelling and developing workshops with high entertainment value and deep social impact. Transcending industries, Shaka Senghor, builds and executes global strategies, develops thought focused leadership and cultural campaigns as a consultant for businesses and non-profit organizations internationally. 

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES
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Gina Belafonte © Karen Ray Photography

Yusef Salaam © Staci Marie Studio