Barry Bradford

Barry Bradford has won an award from the President, two from the Congress, and several from leading Civil Rights Organizations. You may remember him from his appearances on the Today Show, The CBS Evening News, and over 75 other media outlets around the world. Barry has even been profiled on Chinese National Television! He is the author of one book, numerous articles and has served as consultant for the writing of the GED exam. Barry may be best known for twice leading teams of students to reopen two of the most infamous “Cold Cases” in the history of the Civil Rights Era. His leadership in the reopening of the Clyde Kennard case created a legal precedent that has cleared the names of three more men who were wrongfully convicted. His tireless work in pursuing justice in the Mississippi Burning case helped lead to a conviction of Ku Klux Klan leader Edgar Ray Killen, and praise from both Barack Obama and conservative Mississippi Senator Trent Lott. Any speaker who can get those two to agree clearly has something to say to us today! Barry Bradford lives in Deerfield, Illinois.  When Barry is not speaking, writing, or working for justice you will likely find him at a Broadway play with his daughter E. J., watching a movie with his son, Zack, doing volunteer work, reading, cooking or walking his rescue bichon Snooky. When asked his philosophy, Barry usually quotes Anne Frank: “How beautiful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”