Sister Souljah

Sister Souljah, a graduate of Rutgers University, earned a degree in American history and African studies. She also attended the Cornell University Advanced Placement Studies, and studied abroad at the University of Salamanca. Throughout her college years, she traveled to England, France, Spain, Portugal, Finland, and Russia, enhancing her academic achievements with firsthand experiences.

In Zimbabwe, she worked to build a medical center in Bindura and assisted refugee children from Mozambique. As a major participant in the international student anti-apartheid movement, she contributed to the liberation of Nelson Mandela and the divestment of millions of dollars from corporations engaged with apartheid South Africa. Her travels in Africa also included visits to Zambia and South Africa, where she focused on encouraging African professionals to collaborate in saving their continent.

As a student activist in America, she created, financed, and implemented the African Youth Survival Camp, a six-week summer sleep-away academic/cultural camp for 200 children of homeless families. This camp ran for over three consecutive years and inspired major celebrities to establish their own charitable ventures.

A committed community activist, Sister Souljah has organized against racially-motivated crimes, police brutality, and the miseducation of urban youth. She produced and promoted large outdoor rallies and concerts in Harlem, NY, drawing nearly 30,000 youth each time. As an artist, her CD "360 Degrees of Power" sparked international debate over issues of race, culture, sexism, and politics. This includes her role as a featured speaker at the Million Woman March, and appearances on "Oprah," "Larry King Live," and the cover of "Newsweek" magazine.

From 1995 to 2007, she was the Executive Director of Daddy's House Social Programs, where she developed cultural and academic initiatives for urban youth housed at Columbia University, including designing and directing summer sleep-away camps and international youth travel groups. Sister Souljah is the author of three national bestsellers: "The Coldest Winter Ever," "No Disrespect," and "Midnight, A Gangster Love Story." She achieved New York Times Bestseller status with "Midnight, A Gangster Love Story," which debuted at #7 on the charts upon its release in 2008. As a multidimensional figure in the 21st century, she continues to be an influential voice in discussions on race, culture, sexism, and politics.