| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Distinguished Lecturer Organization of American Historians National Teacher of the Year Organization Of American Historians Congressional Leadership Award United States Congress Justice for All National Award Winner The Anti-Defamation League U.S. Presidential Award for Public Service President George W. Bush Civil Rights Teacher of the Year Congress Of Racial Equality History Teacher of the Year Illinois Historical Preservation Agency Golden Apple Award | Barry's Bio His speaking style has been called "dramatic, entertaining and powerful." Barry Bradford has been interviewed by nearly every major media outlet including The Today Show, The New York Times, U.S. News And World Report, ABC, CBS, and NBC Evening News, The Times Of London, Chinese National Television, The Voice of America, The Washington Post, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and C-SPAN. In his home town of Chicago, he’s been featured on the front page of the Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, and the Chicago Daily Herald. Recognized by the Organization of American Historians as a Distinguished Lecturer, Barry has been praised for his “funny and brilliantly crafted presentations”. “I’ve spoken to more groups than I can count, and what I’ve found is that if you want people to remember your message, you have to make them feel your message”, says Barry. To that end, Barry brings humor, pathos, intrigue, and deeply compelling stories to all his keynotes and workshops. Barry made history as the leader of the team that reopened the Mississippi Burning case and brought the murderer to justice. His commitment to justice and belief in the power of every individual to affect history led him to spearhead a movement to convince the State of Mississippi to clear the name of Civil Rights martyr Clyde Kennard. Barry’s success in these high-profile cases along with his many experiences, awards, and recognitions bring conviction and passion to his messages of leadership and personal empowerment. Barry lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife, Mindy, a corporate executive, and their two children, E.J. and Zack. He travels throughout the U.S. speaking for colleges, universities, and businesses, and is the Scholar in Residence for the Patty Turner Center for Adult Education in suburban Chicago. Barry’s Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Communications is from Goddard College (Plainfield, VT) and his Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies is from DePaul University (Chicago). Email Barry: barry@barrybradford.com Follow Barry on Twitter: @Barry1776 |
| MISSISSIPPI BURNING Bradford sprang to international fame when he and three students helped to bring Ku Klux Klan Titan, Edgar Ray Killen to justice. Killen was found guilty of manslaughter in the notorious 1964 “Mississippi Burning” lynching of three civil rights workers helping register black voters in America's Deep South inspired the award-winning 1988 film. After cleverly securing the first on-the-record interview with Killen, the former leader of the white supremacist group who organized the carloads of Klansmen who hunted down and killed the three young men, Bradford worked with a courageous newspaperman, historians, activists and the media to pressure Mississippi to finally reopen the case. He even drafted the Congressional Resolution urging the trial of the killers. His advocacy won him the praise of Civil Rights hero Congressman John Lewis, who called Bradford's work, “creative, unflagging and invaluable.” Congressman (now Senator) Mark Kirk sponsored Bradford for a Congressional Award, noting, "They helped crack open the case, and, not just any case, one of the most politically-charged murders in US history." Then-Senator Barack Obama took to the floor of the Senate to commend Bradford and his students to the assembly. Jerry Mitchell, the award winning investigative reporter for the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, the man who has done more to reopen old Civil Rights cold cases than any one, has often written about Barry Bradford. With an assist from Barry, Jerry Mitchell even discovered the identity of Mr. X, the secret FBI informant in the Miburn Case! No wonder that Mitchell calls him a "dymanic and inspiring teacher who has helped to change history." |
Email Barry: barry@barrybradford.com
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