And while we do our best as scholars and journalists to convey the experiences we have learned and observed, it’s also important to hear such accounts directly from those who identify as conservatives of color.

To that end, we will host a public conversation with Sonnie Johnson on the evening prior to the symposium. Johnson hosts the weekly talk show “Sonnie’s Corner” on SiriusXM Patriot and has a long history in the conservative movement as a journalist, pundit and communications consultant. Johnson regularly hosts conversations, roundtables, and events with other Black conservatives working in grassroots communities around a range of issues.

In this conversation, Johnson will discuss her experiences challenging the racial politics of the conservative establishment, how the failures of liberalism and Democratic party politics have opened the door for grassroots organizing led by a new generation of young Black conservatives, and the misconceptions that people across the political spectrum often hold about young African Americans on the right.