August 10 2026 – Race Forward today announced sociologist, author and professor Tressie McMillan Cottom as the keynote speaker for its biennial Facing Race convening, taking place November 12-14, 2026. Facing Race is the country’s largest gathering of racial justice organizers, advocates, scholars, artists, public and civic leaders, and movement builders.
Dr. Cottom is a towering intellectual whose extensive body of work and public scholarship closely aligns with Race Forward’s work to build a truly multiracial democracy. Her work challenges us to reimagine and transform the systems that determine who is included, who is excluded, and who has the power to shape our collective future.
“We are keenly aware that this conference is occurring at a time of increasing efforts to undermine democracy,” said Glenn Harris, president, Race Forward. “The throughline between event speakers will be a sharp analysis of the state of race and democracy at a time of unprecedented attacks on both. We could not be more thrilled to have Tressie McMillan Cottom with us. She is exactly who our movement needs.”
As the first post-election gathering of its kind, Facing Race will bring together leaders and practitioners from across the racial justice movement to strengthen alignment and expand the conditions needed for justice, equity, and democracy to thrive. For more than two decades, Facing Race has served as a space for connection and exploration.
The event will occur in North Carolina, the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement. North Carolina, and the South more broadly, has long been a bastion of civil rights struggle and innovation. For example, the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) at Shaw University in Raleigh became a driving force for grassroots organizing across the South.
The enduring leadership of Indigenous nations whose stewardship of this land predates the state itself, as well as the labor, cultural resistance, and organizing traditions of Black farmers, migrant workers, laborers, and freedom fighters who demanded dignity and justice in the face of systemic opposition. It is only appropriate that we return to the land of our ancestors, with the hope of learning from their triumphs and trials.
“Structural racism remains one of the greatest barriers to realizing a democracy where everyone is truly free,” Harris said. “This moment invites us to reimagine the future, the path forward and the ways in which we work and show up for one another. We will continue this work in North Carolina.”
Facing Race offers attendees unprecedented access to resources, information, cultural experiences, and collaborative opportunities designed to push racial equity forward across movements, sectors, and communities.
Throughout its history, Race Forward has consistently delivered this transformative experience, convening thousands in cities over the years, including Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Baltimore, Berkeley, New York, and St. Louis. Each chapter of Facing Race is intentionally rooted in place—honoring the people, histories, and movements that have shaped the fight for justice.
This biennial event has a limited number of media spots. If you are interested in applying for media credentials, please complete this form by September 30: https://facingrace.raceforward.org/forms/media-credential.