Shaun King is one of the most followed and shared activists and journalists on the planet, serving as a fearless force for social justice and systemic change who has authored over 1,500 articles on topics ranging from police brutality and mass incarceration to white supremacy and voter suppression. New York Times bestselling author of “Make Change” and co-founder of Real Justice PAC and Grassroots Law Project, King serves as Editor-in-Chief of The North Star while hosting “The Breakdown,” a daily podcast famous for providing practical action steps for social good and systemic change. His distinguished journalism career includes positions as Writer-in-Residence at Harvard Law School, Senior Justice Writer at the New York Daily News, Senior Writer at The Intercept, and Justice Writer for The Daily Kos, while serving as a longtime voice of social justice on the legendary Tom Joyner Morning Show. Listed by Time Magazine as one of the 25 most important people in the world on the internet, King has received social justice awards from Rihanna, the family of Malcolm X, and other prominent figures while working as an organizer and speaker in 47 states across the country on presidential campaigns, district attorney races, legislative battles, and grassroots organizing efforts. As the most prolific civil rights fundraiser of his generation, King has raised over $40 million for families in need and social causes, demonstrating how digital platforms and social media can be leveraged effectively for movement building and direct mutual aid that creates tangible change in people’s lives.
Why their voice matters: King demonstrates how contemporary social justice movements can leverage digital platforms, investigative journalism, and grassroots fundraising to create immediate impact while building long-term systemic change, showing that modern activism requires both traditional organizing skills and mastery of digital tools for storytelling, community building, and resource mobilization.