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Xernona Clayton

Xernona Clayton

Keynote Speaker: Civil Rights Leader, Broadcast Executive, Founder, President & CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation

Xernona Clayton Biography

Xernona Clayton is the Founder, President and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. and Creator of the Foundation’s Trumpet Awards. The Trumpet Awards is a prestigious event highlighting African American accomplishments and contributions. Initiated in 1993 by Turner Broadcasting, the Trumpet Awards has been televised annually and distributed internationally to over 185 countries around the world.

Clayton began her television career in 1967 and became the south’s first Black person to have her own television show. The Xernona Clayton show was a regular feature on WAGA-TV, CBS affiliate in Atlanta. Clayton was employed at Turner Broadcasting for nearly 30 years where she served as a corporate executive. In 1988, Clayton was appointed Corporate Vice President for Urban Affairs with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Clayton moved to Atlanta in 1965 where she accepted a position with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and worked closely with the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dedicated to promoting racial understanding, Clayton has been a leader in civic projects and civil rights activities for several years. In 1966, she coordinated the activities of Atlanta’s Black doctors in a project called Doctors’ Committee for Implementation, which resulted in the desegregation of all hospital facilities in Atlanta.

Her persistent fight against the dragons of prejudice and bigotry was never more apparent than in 1968, when the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan denounced the Klan and credited Clayton’s influence with his change. “The Peaceful Warrior” a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. authored by her late husband Ed Clayton and co-authored by Clayton in the revised editions, has been published in several languages. Clayton Clayton’s autobiography, “I’ve Been Marching All the Time”, was published in 1991.

NAMIC (the National Association of Minorities in Cable) presented, to Clayton, its highest award, the Mickey Leland Award, which honors the late United States Congressman. Clayton, along with former Congressman Kweisi Mfume and the late Commerce Secretary Ronald Brown, was awarded the 1996 Distinguished Leadership Award by NAFEO (The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education) at impressive ceremonies in Washington, D.C. She also received NAFEO’s 2003 Corporate Award. She has received Honorary Doctorate of Letters Degrees from Clark Atlanta University, Tennessee State University and Alcorn State University. A school was recently named in her honor in Ghana, West Africa.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Xernona Clayton and other top speakers and celebrities.

Xernona Clayton Videos

One-On-One With Civil Rights Legend Xernona Clayton
Xernona Clayton talks about working with MLK and Coretta Scott King #MLK90
Xernona Clayton on the legacy of Coretta & Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

How do I book Xernona Clayton to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Xernona Clayton 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 Xernona Clayton, 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 Xernona Clayton or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Xernona Clayton for a speaking engagement?

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

Xernona Clayton is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Civil Rights, Social Activism, Black Heritage, Diversity, Business Leadership, Empowerment, Women, Women in Business, Influential Women, Female Leadership, Social Justice, Authors, History, Motivational, Culture, Leadership, Business, Thought Leadership and Women's History Month.

Where does Xernona Clayton travel from?

Xernona Clayton generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Xernona Clayton?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Xernona Clayton 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 Xernona Clayton 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 Xernona Clayton 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.


Xernona Clayton is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Civil Rights, Social Activism and Black Heritage. The estimated speaking fee range to book Xernona Clayton for live events is Below $10,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Xernona Clayton generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ellen McGirt, Nikki Giovanni and Dorothy Roberts. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Xernona Clayton for an upcoming event.

Xernona Clayton Videos

One-On-One With Civil Rights Legend Xernona Clayton
Xernona Clayton talks about working with MLK and Coretta Scott King #MLK90
Xernona Clayton on the legacy of Coretta & Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Xernona Clayton’s Relationship With Martin Luther King Jr

Xernona Clayton Reviews

  • The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln - Feb 01 2024

  • When I tell you this event was transformative for not only the attendees, but the staff members and even the hotel staff that was in the room spoke of how inspired they were by Xernona. While we had a great conference, having her as one of our speakers took it to the next level.
    Educational Opportunity Fund Professional Association of New Jersey - May 09 2023

  • Mrs. Clayton was absolutely amazing. She was more than knowledgeable on the topic at hand throughout the event.
    Columbus State University - Apr 03 2023

  • Our companies loved Xernona's presentation and Q&A session!
    CooperCompanies (CooperVision & CooperSurgical) - Jan 17 2023

  • DreamBank - Jun 22 2022

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XERNONA CLAYTON

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