About The Chavis Chronicles Film Lectures Book Dr. Chavis →
Civil Rights Icon & PBS Television Host

Leader.
Activist.
Educator.

Award-winning journalist, civil rights legend, and host of The Chavis Chronicles on PBS — advancing justice, dialogue, and empowerment for over six decades.

NNPA President & CEO PBS Television Host Duke University Professor Million Man March Organizer
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Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.
The Chavis Chronicles — Now Airing on PBS Nationwide✦ Reaching 90 Million Households Weekly✦ NNPA — The Black Press of America · 215 Newspapers✦ Advancing Justice · Equity · Empowerment✦ The Chavis Chronicles — Now Airing on PBS Nationwide✦ Reaching 90 Million Households Weekly✦ NNPA — The Black Press of America · 215 Newspapers✦ Advancing Justice · Equity · Empowerment✦
About Dr. Chavis

A Living Legend of the Civil Rights Movement

Reverend Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is an entrepreneur, global business leader, educator, chemist, civil rights icon, NAACP Life Member, syndicated columnist, theologian, and author — currently serving as President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA): The Black Press of America.

A lifelong activist, Dr. Chavis overcame racial injustice and wrongful imprisonment to become a foundational voice of the modern civil rights movement. He began his career in 1963 as a statewide youth coordinator for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

From serving as Executive Director of the NAACP, to organizing the historic Million Man March, to hosting a nationally broadcast PBS television series — Dr. Chavis has shaped American history while remaining deeply committed to justice, education, and empowerment.

60+
Years of Activism
90M
PBS Households Weekly
215
NNPA Newspapers
70+
Publications Authored
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.
"What my eyes have seen — and what we still must do together."
Now Airing on PBS Nationwide
The Chavis Chronicles

Beyond the Headlines. Into the Heart of Change.

  • ◈A thought-provoking half-hour weekly talk show with an urban American flair — featuring leaders, politicians, doctors, scientists, and global cultural influencers.
  • ◈Hosted by Dr. Chavis — described as Meet The Press meets Fareed Zakaria GPS with an urban American flare.
  • ◈Distributed by American Public Television, reaching over 90 million households across the United States.
  • ◈52-part series covering civil rights, health equity, economic empowerment, culture, politics, and global dialogue.
Visit Official Website →
The Chavis Chronicles — Season Premiere · PBS
Media Gallery

A Life Lived in Purpose

Dr. Chavis speaking at a rally — a voice for justice
Dr. Chavis speaking at a rally — a voice for justice
With President Joe Biden
With President Joe Biden
With activist Angela Davis — united for justice
With activist Angela Davis — united for justice
With Nelson Mandela at the NAACP
With Nelson Mandela at the NAACP
Scholar & Author — A life of learning
Scholar & Author — A life of learning
The Wilmington Ten — a landmark civil rights case
The Wilmington Ten — a landmark civil rights case
Hip Hop Summit Action Network — bridging generations
Hip Hop Summit Action Network — bridging generations
Speaking at the National Cathedral
Speaking at the National Cathedral
On camera — Washington D.C.
On camera — Washington D.C.
Fists raised with Nelson Mandela
Fists raised with Nelson Mandela
Psalms from Prison — written as a political prisoner
Psalms from Prison — written as a political prisoner
Featured Film

Blood Done Sign My Name

A powerful theatrical film based on true events from Dr. Chavis' early days in the Civil Rights Movement — depicting racial injustice and the courageous fight for equality in a small Southern town during the 1960s and '70s.

Distributed by Paladin. Directed by Jeb Stuart. Starring Ricky Schroder, Nate Parker, and Lela Rochon. Released 2010.

Watch on YouTube ↗
2010
Speaking & Lectures

Talks That Challenge, Inspire & Transform

Dr. Chavis brings firsthand experience, scholarly authority, and passionate conviction to every engagement.

01
"And Then What?"
What do we do after the marches end? Provokes forward thinking about sustained engagement and what comes next for the movement.
02
Civil Rights: It's Not Just a Throwback, It's the Future
A firsthand account — sit-ins, marches with Dr. King, the Million Man March — and how history informs the urgent path ahead.
03
Get Organized!
From the Million Man March to campus activism, the fundamentals of mobilizing people and sustaining movements that matter.
04
From Civil Rights to Hip-Hop: Bridging the Cultural Divide
Co-founder of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network with Russell Simmons — exploring music, culture, and generational change.
05
Environmental Justice: A New Multicultural Movement
How communities of color are leading the charge for environmental justice as a core civil rights issue.
06
OG Wisdom: From the Streets to Corporate Suites
Translating the wisdom of the movement into tools for professional, entrepreneurial, and community success.
Invite Dr. Chavis

Bring a Living Legend
to Your Stage

Dr. Chavis is available for keynote addresses, panel discussions, university lectures, corporate engagements, and media appearances. His presence transforms events into moments of historical significance.

Keynote Speaking Panel Discussions University Lectures Corporate Engagements Media Appearances Movie Screenings + Q&A