Michelle Duster

Michelle Duster

Keynote Speaker: Public Historian, Equity Advocate & Award-Winning Author Known for "Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells"

Michelle Duster Biography

Michelle Duster is an author, public historian, educator, and champion of racial and gender equity who has worked for over 30 years in various mediums to highlight the positive contributions of women and African Americans to the United States. She has written, edited, or contributed to numerous articles and over 20 books, plus worked on monuments, markers, murals, statues, documentary films, and film festivals -- all to tell stories that have frequently been omitted, skewed or marginalized.

She is determined to help current and future generations be exposed to and inspired by more inclusive and truthful representation. Her most recent books about her great-grandmother Ida B. Wells are the picture book, "Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth" and the adult book "Ida B. the Queen." She also co-edited the anthologies "Impact: Personal Portraits of Activism" and "Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American Women and Girls."

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Michelle Duster and other top speakers and celebrities.

Michelle Duster Speaking Topics

Make an Impact: Lessons from Ida B. Wells and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The combined lifespans of these two leaders is over one hundred years of struggle for freedom, justice, and racial equality. Their lives overlapped by two years, so one can think that Wells passed the activist baton to King. Although they were two generations apart, they have a lot in common. Michelle Duster highlights the similarities between these two activists and offers suggestions on how today’s leaders can make an impact by adopting some of the strategies used by Wells and King.

Ida B. Wells & Today's Street Journalism

Information included in the mainstream media has historically been told through an overwhelmingly white male lens. As a result, the perspectives and realities of African Americans tend to be overlooked, skewed, or erased. In order to combat this, some have taken initiative to report their own realities. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ida B. Wells took control, countered false narratives, and chronicled the realities of lynchings and riots during her time. A century later, the African American community is still impacted by racial inequality and state-sanctioned violence. Writer, speaker, educator, Michelle Duster, will discuss how her paternal great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells pioneered data journalism and how that tradition contributes to truth and justice.

From 1919 Black Awakening to 2021 Black Lives Matter Movement

In this conversation, centered on her book Ida B the Queen and essay featured in Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America Michelle Duster, author, speaker, and educator will touch on the events leading up to, during, and following the race riots of the Red Summer of 1919. She will explain how the lack of implementation of solutions presented after that summer’s riots are tied to the current social and civil unrest.

African American Suffragists and the Struggle for Inclusion

Even though the suffrage movement was focused on women gaining the right to vote, the battle was mostly fought separately along racial lines. White women shunned and marginalized African American women, which propelled them to form their own groups. Author, speaker, and educator, Michelle Duster explains the racial divisions that her great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells, and other suffragists experienced and how the struggle for African American women to be included extends to today’s struggle for inclusion in the documentation and commemorations of the movement as well as current voting rights.

Ida B. Wells and Family Legacy of Determination, Education & Agitation

Author, speaker and educator, Michelle Duster will discuss the work and legacy of her paternal great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells, and the multi-generational family efforts to make sure her ancestor's contributions to the country are recognized and honored. The author of Ida B the Queen has worked on a PBS documentary film, edited two books that include her ancestor's writing, a Chicago monument, an honorary street name, a public marker, and a major downtown Chicago street. She consults on other national projects that feature her ancestor. In addition, she manages the Ida B. Wells Memorial Foundation which provides college scholarships and supports public history projects that include Ida B. Wells.

Ida B. Wells lived through violent and lawless times which is explained and discussed. The composition of the audience determines the level of detail and selection of images that will be included.

Michelle Duster Videos

Michelle Duster, great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells (Full Stream 2/1)
P&P Live! Michelle Duster | IDA B. THE QUEEN
How To Change Public Perception with Michelle Duster

How do I book Michelle Duster to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Michelle Duster for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Michelle Duster, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Michelle Duster or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Michelle Duster for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Michelle Duster, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Michelle Duster are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Michelle Duster, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Michelle Duster speak about?

Michelle Duster is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Authors, Education, Educational Motivational, Social Activism, Diversity & Inclusion, Black Heritage, Black History Month and Literary.

Where does Michelle Duster travel from?

Michelle Duster generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Michelle Duster?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Michelle Duster for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Michelle Duster for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Michelle Duster or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Michelle Duster is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Authors, Education and Educational Motivational. The estimated speaking fee range to book Michelle Duster for live events is Below $10,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Michelle Duster generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Bethaney Wilkinson, Xernona Clayton and Yoruba Richen. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Michelle Duster for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/02/2024.

Michelle Duster Speaking Topics

  • Make an Impact: Lessons from Ida B. Wells and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    The combined lifespans of these two leaders is over one hundred years of struggle for freedom, justice, and racial equality. Their lives overlapped by two years, so one can think that Wells passed the activist baton to King. Although they were two generations apart, they have a lot in common. Michelle Duster highlights the similarities between these two activists and offers suggestions on how today’s leaders can make an impact by adopting some of the strategies used by Wells and King.

  • Ida B. Wells & Today's Street Journalism

    Information included in the mainstream media has historically been told through an overwhelmingly white male lens. As a result, the perspectives and realities of African Americans tend to be overlooked, skewed, or erased. In order to combat this, some have taken initiative to report their own realities. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ida B. Wells took control, countered false narratives, and chronicled the realities of lynchings and riots during her time. A century later, the African American community is still impacted by racial inequality and state-sanctioned violence. Writer, speaker, educator, Michelle Duster, will discuss how her paternal great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells pioneered data journalism and how that tradition contributes to truth and justice.

  • From 1919 Black Awakening to 2021 Black Lives Matter Movement

    In this conversation, centered on her book Ida B the Queen and essay featured in Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America Michelle Duster, author, speaker, and educator will touch on the events leading up to, during, and following the race riots of the Red Summer of 1919. She will explain how the lack of implementation of solutions presented after that summer’s riots are tied to the current social and civil unrest.

  • African American Suffragists and the Struggle for Inclusion

    Even though the suffrage movement was focused on women gaining the right to vote, the battle was mostly fought separately along racial lines. White women shunned and marginalized African American women, which propelled them to form their own groups. Author, speaker, and educator, Michelle Duster explains the racial divisions that her great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells, and other suffragists experienced and how the struggle for African American women to be included extends to today’s struggle for inclusion in the documentation and commemorations of the movement as well as current voting rights.

  • Ida B. Wells and Family Legacy of Determination, Education & Agitation

    Author, speaker and educator, Michelle Duster will discuss the work and legacy of her paternal great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells, and the multi-generational family efforts to make sure her ancestor's contributions to the country are recognized and honored. The author of Ida B the Queen has worked on a PBS documentary film, edited two books that include her ancestor's writing, a Chicago monument, an honorary street name, a public marker, and a major downtown Chicago street. She consults on other national projects that feature her ancestor. In addition, she manages the Ida B. Wells Memorial Foundation which provides college scholarships and supports public history projects that include Ida B. Wells.

    Ida B. Wells lived through violent and lawless times which is explained and discussed. The composition of the audience determines the level of detail and selection of images that will be included.

Michelle Duster Videos

Michelle Duster, great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells (Full Stream 2/1)
P&P Live! Michelle Duster | IDA B. THE QUEEN
How To Change Public Perception with Michelle Duster

Michelle Duster Reviews

  • Michelle is an effective and engaged speaker, and our students and faculty were all raving about her talk afterward.
    Minnesota State University, Mankato - Apr 19 2023

  • YMCA of South Florida - Jan 20 2023

  • Elmhurst University - Feb 17 2022

  • Working with the team at AAE was seamless! The team responded to my inquiries by email and phone in a timely manner. I can imagine that this is a busy time for Michelle Duster with both Black History Month and Women's History Month back-to-back, along with the release of the book "Ida B. the Queen". However, I never felt like my communication was not prioritized. Finally, Michelle Duster's talk inspired our department and enlightened us on the legacy of Ida B. Wells as a sociologist. It was a phenomenal event put on by a phenomenal team! I cannot express enough gratitude for AAE! Thank you very much!
    University of Central Florida Board of Trustees - Mar 06 2021

  • Oakton Community College - Mar 18 2020

  • How do I book Michelle Duster to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Michelle Duster for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Michelle Duster, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Michelle Duster or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Michelle Duster for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Michelle Duster, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Michelle Duster are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Michelle Duster, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Michelle Duster speak about?

    Michelle Duster is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Authors, Education, Educational Motivational, Social Activism, Diversity & Inclusion, Black Heritage, Black History Month and Literary.
  • Where does Michelle Duster travel from?

    Michelle Duster generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Michelle Duster?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Michelle Duster for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Michelle Duster for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Michelle Duster or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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