first, i would like to introduce herb boyd, herb boyd to my left. herb boyd is an award-winning author and journalist who has published 17 books and countless articles for national magazines and newspapers. his books include brother men, on the sea of black men in america, an anthology. [applause] he has co-edited with robert, the black scholar journal and on the american book award for nonfiction. in 1999 herb boyd 13 first-place awards from the new york associate of black journalism for articles published for the amsterdam is. this. he has written black panthers for beginners, it an autobiography of people three centuries told by those who lived it. race and resistance. his most recent book, i think is the life and times of sugar ray robinson. what is the most recent one? >> that is all right, go ahead. [laughter] >> is a bald ones parlor? >> yeah. that is the most recent one. >> i wish i were as prolific as you. boyd is the managing director of the black black world. he is-- is one of new york's treasures and in harlem we treasure him especially,

we treasure him especially, herb boyd. [applause] next is thomas bradshaw. according to the new york times his work is, quote, likely to leave you speechless. a professor of play writing thomas bradshaw has been named one of the top ten playwrights to watch by time out new york and the best provocative playwright in 2007. if you call provocative by the village voice he must be something. his plays include the bereaved, southern promises, strom thurmond is not a racist. he is working on commissions for the goodman thomas bradshaw. [applause] major owens is a politician and prominent member of i hope i have this right, democratic socialism in america. that is okay? not actors. democratic socialists have all my respect. we all know him as the representative of the house of representatives from brooklyn who replaced shirley chisholm. he has been a very important voice. representation for us in the united states congress. he has been a member of the progressive caucus in addition to the black congressional caucus. he is an author and such a major figure that the