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NBA legend and APB speaker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently wrote a poignant op-ed for the LA Times defending the protests taking place across the country. In this moving piece, Kareem defends these protests saying he doesn’t want to see stores being looted. He goes on to remind people that the protests are what happens when the black community has been pushed to their tipping point. “The black community is used to the institutional racism inherent in education, the justice system and jobs. And even though we do all the conventional things to raise public and political awareness…the needle hardly budges,” he says. “African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer. Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible—even if you’re choking on it—until you let the sun in. Then you see it’s everywhere,” Kareem writes. Abdul-Jabbar also goes on to say that racism is deadlier than COVID-19.  

Award-winning author and APB speaker Dr. Donna Hicks is the pioneering mind behind the Dignity Model, a signature approach that she has applied to the most divisive and deep-seated conflicts around the world. In her recent blog post, Donna mentions how the assaults to the dignity of African Americans perpetrated by police have a long history in this country.

New York Times bestselling author, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation and APB speaker Wes Moore captured the nation’s attention with his debut book The Other Wes Moore, a firsthand account of a life journey empowered by the strength of family, educational opportunities and community network. Wes is now speaking out against the systemic injustice and racism happening in our country. 

New York Times bestselling author and APB speaker David Epstein highlights the murder of a black man in his recent “Range Report,” where he interviews his brother Daniel. This murder took place in Minneapolis when a black man died after police officers pinned him down with their knees for several minutes until he stopped breathing. No, not George Floyd – his name was David Cornelius Smith and this happened in 2010. 

Over 55 years ago, APB was founded on the mission to provide an open forum for individuals to voice their opinions and points of view. Now is the time to speak out. Now is the time to stand together. Now is the time for change. We have a long history of working toward racial justice and providing a platform to those giving a voice to the voiceless, from such leaders as Martin Luther King, Jr., Dick Gregory, and Adam Clayton Powell to the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter. As we reflect on everything that is happening, let’s be confident that change will come – and smart enough to know that it must involve all of us.

Audiobooks are having a moment. APB speaker and bestselling author Brad Meltzer along with APB speaker and CBS News contributor David Pogue say it’s the acting and tone of a good narrator that draws listener to the audiobook.  

From grassroots activism to presidential campaigns to working in the White House, speaker Karine Jean-Pierre is now Joe Biden’s 2020 senior advisor. Jean-Pierre had previously served in the Obama White House as regional political director before working as deputy battleground states director on his 2012 re-election.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia and a member of The Elders, addressed a high-level open videoconference (VTC) on the United Nations Secretary-General’s annual report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Invited because of her experiences leading Liberia through both the Ebola Crisis and its recovery from a decades-long civil war, President Sirleaf provided insights on how to manage the impact of COVID-19 on civilian populations in conflict and post-conflict situations. She urged the council to “act with boldness” to protect those trapped in conflict and “end the cycle of immeasurable loss and human tragedy.”

Although traveling and attending social events or group classes are mostly cancelled this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, virtual versions might be possible. APB speaker David Pogue investigated this concept by spending the weekend bingeing Airbnb’s newest virtual experiences.  

American astronauts on American rockets launching from American soil for the first time since 2011. This is Launch America. APB Speaker and Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino is excited to be a part of Discovery Channel’s live broadcast of Space Launch Live: America Returns to Space, which is in partnership with The Washington Post. The live broadcast will be on May 27th at 2:00 p.m. ET/PT and will go until the launch ends.