LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS
Lori Tharps is a dynamic and inspirational speaker. She brings her background in drama, her passion for justice and a ready sense of humor to examine topics ranging from multi-cultural parenting to African-American history. She has been a guest on numerous talk radio programs and has appeared on television (C-Span, VH-1, The Brian Lehrer Show, Good Day Philadelphia) as an expert on Black hair and diversity issues.
Tharps Currently Offers the Following Lectures:
Getting the Story Straight: The Real History of Africans in America
In the United States most people believe the history of Black Americans begins with the slave trade, includes the civil war, some civil rights and a great man named Martin Luther King, Jr. It ended after Dr. King died and we celebrate it all in the short month of February. In this interactive and moving lecture, Tharps fills in the missing pieces of the Black Experience – the powerful and positive pieces -- and explains how knowing the truth will set Black America free from stereotypes and a slave mentality.
Can be adapted for school age audiences and adults. (Resource Lists and Tip Sheets Included)
Meltingpot America
Why do neighborhoods like Philadelphia’s Mt. Airy and Columbia, Maryland get written up as some of the first integrated neighborhoods in America when American neighborhoods have been integrated since the Pilgrims came and gentrified Jamestown? In this lecture, Tharps takes the audience on a historical tour of multi-cultural America, through geographical locations and cultural institutions where integration has been the starting point not an enforced government mandate. From churches to Chinatown, experience the power of America’s real meltingpot.
Parenting Across Color Lines
Lori Tharps is not a parenting expert but she can tell you a thing or two about parenting in a mixed-race, bilingual, multi-cultural household. In this lively and honest lecture, Tharps brings personal experience coupled with her years as a parenting writer for publications such as Essence, Real Health and Healthy Living. She gives opinions and advice on everything from raising bilingual kids to the best ways to incorporate more than one racial/cultural background into holidays and everyday living. (Resource List and Tip Sheets Included)
Is Black Hair Still Political? Let me Count the Ways
After co-authoring the book Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America, Tharps has become a certified expert on the social, political and economic realities of Black hair. Tharps pulls examples from pop culture to ancient history to illustrate how influential Black hair is on the American cultural landscape.
Lori has spoken at the following Conferences and Institutions as either featured speaker, panelist or moderator:
East Side Community High School (New York)
Smith College Club of New York City
Barnard College
Spelman College
University of Pennsylvania
Princeton University
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Happy to be Nappy Conference
International Locs Conference
The Harlem Book Fair
The Calabash International Literary Festival
The Chicago Tribune Book Fair
The Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival
The Essence Music Festival
Circle of Sisters Expo
The Girls Action Network Career Conference
If you are interested in having Tharps as a speaker, please send an Email with "Speaker Request" in the subject line.