James Lawson
Keynote Speaker: Reverend & Civil Rights Activist
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James Lawson Biography
Reverend James M. Lawson, Jr. was one of the Civil Rights Movement's leading theoreticians and tacticians in the African American struggle for freedom and equality in the 1950s and 1960s.
Lawson's interest in civil rights and social justice began in 1947 when he entered Baldwin-Wallace College . During his years at Baldwin-Wallace, he became a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) local chapter and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), both of which were devoted advocates of direct nonviolent resistance to racism.
Consistent with his beliefs towards nonviolence, Lawson became a "conscientious objector" during the Korean War, and was sentenced to three years in prison for violating draft laws. Upon his release from prison and the completion of his bachelor's degree, Lawson traveled to India to work the Methodist Board of Missionaries. While in India, he studied the Gandhian principles of Satayagrapha, or the strategy of nonviolence.
Upon returning to the US in 1956, Lawson entered Oberlin College's Graduate School of Theology. In 1957, one of Lawson's professors introduced him to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who urged him to move south and aid in the Civil Rights Movement. Heeding King's advice, Lawson moved to Nashville, Tennessee and enrolled at the Divinity School of Vanderbilt University, where he served as the southern director for FOR and began hosting nonviolence training workshops for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. There Lawson trained many of the future leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including James Bevel, Diane Nash, John Lewis, Bernard Lafayette, and Marion Barry.
In 1960, Lawson was expelled from Vanderbilt for organizing the Nashville student sit-ins. Lawson moved to Memphis in June 1962, where he became pastor of Centenary Methodist Church, one of the largest churches in the city. He also continued his organizing activity. Throughout the decade, he led various community movements for racial justice in Memphis. In 1968, while involved in the Sanitation Workers strike, he invited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis to speak where 15,000 people heard his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop Speech."
In 1974, James Lawson moved to Los Angeles, California where he became pastor of Holman United Methodist Church and continued his social activism now on Palestinian and immigrant rights; gay and lesbian issues; the Iraq wars; and poverty. Rev. Lawson retired from Holman United Methodist Church in 1999.In 2004 Lawson was awarded the Community of Christ International Peace Award.
Lawson has continued to train activists in nonviolence and to work in support of a number of civil rights causes, including immigrants' rights in the United States and the rights of Palestinians, opposition to the war in Iraq, and workers' rights to a living wage.
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Speaking fees for James Lawson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book James Lawson are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire James Lawson, 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 James Lawson speak about?
James Lawson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Civil Rights, Faith & Religion, Black Heritage, Diversity and Social Activism.
Where does James Lawson travel from?
James Lawson generally travels from Nashville, TN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for James Lawson?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like James Lawson 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 James Lawson for your next private or corporate function.
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James Lawson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Civil Rights, Faith & Religion and Black Heritage. The estimated speaking fee range to book James Lawson for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. James Lawson generally travels from Nashville, TN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Xernona Clayton, Ijeoma Oluo and Yusef Salaam. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling James Lawson for an upcoming event.
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YMCA of South Florida - Jan 21 2021
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