Diversity Celebrations

Benjamin Franklin is the ideal speaker for your next Diversity Day celebration, Black History Month commemoration, Martin Luther King Day event, or indeed, any gathering where valuing diversity is championed. Ben was known for his fair dealings with Native Americans, and he was often a representative chosen to deal with Indian affairs. Although a slave owner as a young man, Ben came to rethink his early prejudices about the intellectual capacities of African slaves and the morality of the slave trade. His ability to admit error on these issues led to his becoming an important early Abolitionist.

Indeed, towards the end of his life, Ben was elected President of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery. In the last year of his life, he petitioned Congress to abolish slavery altogether. With this plea came his detailed plan to integrate freed slaves and their families fully into the life of the new nation. Chris highlights this lesser known but important aspect of Ben’s life in an inspiring program. He shows how Ben’s change of heart and mind were guided by qualities still needed in today’s America: an open mind, scientific objectivity, and a sense of fairness.

See what others around the country have said by clicking on "Testimonials". To reserve a date on Chris’s calendar for a visit as Ben, contact Chris.