Bertice Berry

Speaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker Rating
5 out of 5

Sociologist, Author and Educator

Travels From Travels From:
Savannah, GA, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Bertice Berry Biography

No one defies stereotypes, generalizations, or clichés more than Dr. Bertice Berry. Growing up poor in Wilmington, Delaware, the sixth of seven children, Berry was told by a high school teacher that she was "not college material." Fortunately, there was another teacher who believed that she was destined for more. Berry applied to several schools without any idea how she would pay the tuition if she were accepted. The day her application arrived at Jacksonville University in Florida, a wealthy benefactor called the admissions department looking for a potential student "who could swim if they had the right backing," and might sink without it.

Berry not only graduated magna cum laude from Jacksonville where she was awarded the President's Cup for leadership; she subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Kent State University at the age of 26. Dr. Berry taught sociology and statistics at Kent, and demonstrated that she knew a few things about humor, as well. She became one of the most popular teachers at the university—so popular, in fact, larger lecture halls had to be found to accommodate her ever-increasing number of students. "A colleague said to me, 'You're funny', and I said, 'No I'm not, I'm a scholar," recounts Dr. Berry. It was then that she realized that, by using humor in her lectures to address such difficult subjects as racism and sexism, she was making a more profound impact.

Shortly thereafter, Berry left Kent to become an award-winning entertainer, lecturer, and comedienne. From 1991 through 1994 she won the coveted national Comedian of the Year Award, and was also named Campus Lecturer of the Year and Campus Entertainer of the Year. She had created a niche as both a gifted speaker with a comic edge and a comic with a serious message. Her busy schedule included over 200 appearances a year.

Berry was the host and co-executive producer of her own nationally syndicated talk show The Bertice Berry Show, and hosted USA Live, a four-hour live interview and entertainment show on the USA Cable Network. She's been featured on numerous other television programs, including appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, ABC's 20/20, and more recently on NPR's "Tell Me More" with Michel Martin.

Dr. Bertice Berry is also the best-selling author of an inspirational memoir, "I'm On My Way, But Your Foot Is on My Head", and the hilarious bestsellers "Sckraight from the Ghetto, You Might Be Ghetto If", and the sequel, "You STILL Ghetto." Her first work of fiction, "Redemption Song", published by Double Day in 2000, is also a bestseller and has been praised by critics for its ability to entertain, inspire, and educate. Berry followed Redemption Song with another bestseller, "The Haunting of Hip Hop," and took her readers on a journey to the other side. In August 2002, she released her most passionate work ever with "Jim & Louella's Homemade Heart-fix Remedy", a tantalizing yet spiritual tale that has won several awards. Berry's wit and wisdom shine through in her novel about looking for love in all the wrong places—and with all the wrong people—in "When Love Calls, You Better Answer," which was released the summer of 2005. Her book "The Ties That Bind" bridges the past with the future and is more personal—tracing the history of her family—and was released in January 2009. Her latest book, "A Year to Wellness and Other Weight Loss Secrets," is a personal journey of healing and wellness that resulted in a weight loss of 150 pounds.

Berry is also a member of the Board of Directors for Capella University, an online university of 26,000 exceptional learners.

Dr. Berry believes that community involvement is not limited to just "writing a check" and has taken a very active role in supporting organizations that benefit those in need. She has graciously donated all of the royalties from the sales of her books to organizations that help families in transition, raise funds for scholarships, and provide resource information to low-income families.

Despite all of her honors and achievements, Dr. Berry is most proud of becoming the "instant mother" to her five adopted children. She lives in Savannah, Georgia, where she is active in the community. "When you walk with purpose," Berry says, "you collide with destiny!"

BOOK Bertice Berry

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/01/2024.

Bertice Berry Speaking Topics

  • Diversity on College Campuses

  • The Ties That Bind

    In this keynote presentation, Dr. Berry discusses the evolution of race relations from slavery to Reconstruction, from the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power 1970s, and on to the present day, stressing the need to forgive and be forgiven.

  • With more than 25 years of lecturing experience, Dr. Bertice Berry has touched the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life.

    Based on the theme of the event that your team provides, a call with your team, and additional research conducted on the topic chosen, Dr. Berry’s presentation will address the specific needs of your organization, your region and your audience.

    While Bertice Berry specialized in multiple areas of study including research, statistical analysis, stratification, gender, race, theory and age, her life experience as a talk-show host, author, comedian and mother have enriched her academic background tremendously.

  • The World According to Me: How to Beat the Odds and Succeed

  • Women in the Workplace

  • Healing the Village

    The old proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child,” is correct – but the problem is that our village is sick.

    In her keynote presentation, award-winning speaker Dr. Bertice Berry presents practical solutions to address the problems facing our village. Drawing on her personal experience as well as her professional expertise, Dr. Berry helps us to create and sustain a healthier village. Deftly using humor in her keynote speech, she motivates, enlightens and entertains audiences.

Bertice Berry Videos

  • TEDxSTLAWRENCECOLLEGE - BerticeBerry - WalkingWithPurpose
  • Dr. Bertice Berry: A Year To Wellness - YouTube

Bertice Berry Books

  • When Love Calls, You Better Answer
    When Love Calls, You Better Answer
  • Haunting of Hip Hop, The
    Haunting of Hip Hop, The
  • Redemption Song: A Novel
    Redemption Song: A Novel
  • You Still Ghetto: You Know You're Still Ghetto If...
    You Still Ghetto: You Know You're Still Ghetto If...
  • I'm on My Way but Your Foot Is on My Head: A Black Woman's Story of Getting Over Life's Hurdles (Previously Published as: Bertice: The World According to Me
    I'm on My Way but Your Foot Is on My Head: A Black Woman's Story of Getting Over Life's Hurdles (Previously Published as: Bertice: The World According to Me
  • Sckraight From The Ghetto: You Know You're Ghetto If . . .
    Sckraight From The Ghetto: You Know You're Ghetto If . . .

Speaker Lists Featuring Bertice Berry

FAQs on booking Bertice Berry

  • How do I book Bertice Berry to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Bertice Berry for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Bertice Berry, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Bertice Berry or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Bertice Berry

    Speaking fees for Bertice Berry, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Bertice Berry are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Bertice Berry, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Bertice Berry speak about?

  • Where does Bertice Berry travel from?

    Bertice Berry generally travels from Savannah, GA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Bertice Berry’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Bertice Berry for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Bertice Berry for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Bertice Berry or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Bertice Berry is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity on College Campuses, The Ties That Bind, , The World According to Me: How to Beat the Odds and Succeed, Women in the Workplace and Healing the Village. The estimated speaking fee range to book Bertice Berry for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Bertice Berry generally travels from Savannah, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Linda Ellerbee, Malaak Compton, Montel Williams, Victoria Rowell and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Bertice Berry for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP