Shermann “Dilla” Thomas

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas

Keynote Speaker: Chicago Urban Historian & TikTok Content Creator

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  • Speaking Fee:
    Live Event Fee: Below $10,000
    Virtual Event Fee: Below $10,000
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Shermann “Dilla” Thomas Biography

Chicago historian Shermann Thomas, or Dilla, as he is affectionately called, is a fascinating blend of modern historian, cultural worker, and public employee. Thomas has become a Chicago social media sensation by going viral on TikTok. His 60-second history videos on everything Chicago have been viewed over 20 million times, and he has amassed a following of 210K followers across all social media platforms. He has been featured on all Chicago media and appeared nationally on both "The Today Show" and "The Kelly Clarkson Show." Thomas is a proud lifelong resident of Chicago's South Side. He lives by the saying that everything dope about America comes from Chicago.

Through the power of storytelling, Thomas is helping to change the narrative locally and nationally about Chicago's value to the world. He has been named 2022 Chicago Tourism Ambassador of the Year by Choose Chicago, the city's tourism agency. He is a recipient of the prestigious Chicago Public Library Foundation's 21st Century Award and a Studs Terkel Uplifting Voices recipient. Thomas was voted 2021 and 2022 as the best Chicago Twitter and Chicago TikTok pages by Chicago Reader magazine. He has presented Chicago history lessons and lectures to institutions such as the University of Chicago, LaSalle University (PA), Northwestern University, Rosevelt University, and a number of partners of the Chicago Community Colleges network.

Thomas has also given lessons to corporate groups such as Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Google, Stork, Shriver Center of Poverty Law, and Chicago Cares. He most recently represented Chicago in Amsterdam for Bloomberg's City Labs. He is a member of the Black Chicago History Initiate Steering Committee and a proud partner of the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, and the Chicago Fire.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Shermann “Dilla” Thomas and other top speakers and celebrities.

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas Speaking Topics

  • Black History
  • Chicago History
  • Chicago Cultural History
  • Chicago Labor History

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas Videos

We Built Chicago: Exploring Chicago's Racial History
Shermann “Dilla” Thomas | Chicago Favorite Historian
Viral Chicago TikTok Historian Explains Origin Of The Fireman's

How do I book Shermann “Dilla” Thomas to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Shermann “Dilla” Thomas for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Shermann “Dilla” Thomas are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas speak about?

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Black Heritage, Diversity & Inclusion, Black History Month, History, Culture, Human Resources and Social Media.

Where does Shermann “Dilla” Thomas travel from?

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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.


Shermann “Dilla” Thomas is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Black Heritage, Diversity & Inclusion and Black History Month. The estimated speaking fee range to book Shermann “Dilla” Thomas for live events is Below $10,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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 Deanna Singh, Jasmine Crowe-Houston and Liz Dozier. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Shermann “Dilla” Thomas for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 21/03/2025.

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas Speaking Topics

    • Black History
    • Chicago History
    • Chicago Cultural History
    • Chicago Labor History

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas Videos

We Built Chicago: Exploring Chicago's Racial History
Shermann “Dilla” Thomas | Chicago Favorite Historian
Viral Chicago TikTok Historian Explains Origin Of The Fireman's
Popular TikToker Dilla the Urban historian offers historic tours ...
Chicago man shares city history on TikTok

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas Reviews

  • Dilla was amazing to work with! This was a wonderful event.
    Northwestern University - Feb 19 2025

  • How do I book Shermann “Dilla” Thomas to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Shermann “Dilla” Thomas for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Shermann “Dilla” Thomas are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas speak about?

    Shermann “Dilla” Thomas is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Black Heritage, Diversity & Inclusion, Black History Month, History, Culture, Human Resources and Social Media.
  • Where does Shermann “Dilla” Thomas travel from?

    Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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 Shermann “Dilla” Thomas 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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