Paul Robeson, an enduring and multitalented figure, broke colour barriers in sports, music, film and theatre. He was an internationally famous singer and actor yet in the US he was persecuted and blacklisted for his political beliefs. He died impoverished and in obscurity. His singular life is a model for courage and steadfastness in the face of racial and political prejudice.

Cornel West, professor at Harvard, has been called "the preeminent African American intellectual of his generation." With his preacher-like cadences and passionate delivery, he is much in demand as a speaker. A prolific author, his book Race Matters was a bestseller.