Shaun King

Shaun King is a globally recognized civil rights leader, journalist, and public intellectual whose work spans justice reform, digital media, and social advocacy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Morehouse College, where he was a distinguished Oprah Winfrey Scholar and served as student body president. He later completed a Master’s degree in History from Arizona State University, focusing on revolutionary social movements. Shaun began his career as a high school civics teacher and juvenile justice advocate, setting the foundation for what would become a lifelong commitment to systemic change.

Over the past decade, Shaun King has emerged as one of the most influential voices in digital justice activism. As a former Senior Justice Writer for the New York Daily News and a columnist for The Intercept, he has written more than 1,500 articles dissecting police brutality, racial injustice, and public policy. His media presence extends across major platforms including CNN, MSNBC, The Today Show, Ellen, Oprah Magazine, and The Tonight Show. He is also the host of the long-running podcast The Breakdown with Shaun King, where he explores urgent issues in criminal justice, politics, and human rights.

Shaun is the founder and executive director of the Grassroots Law Project, a nonprofit that merges legal advocacy with community organizing to address systemic abuses in policing and incarceration. He also co-founded Real Justice PAC, which supports the election of progressive prosecutors committed to ending mass incarceration and institutional racism. In 2019, he relaunched The North Star, a media platform originally founded by Frederick Douglass, adapting it as a modern hub for justice-centered journalism.

Named by Time Magazine as one of the “25 most important people on the Internet,” Shaun King’s digital influence reaches millions around the world. He has spoken in 47 U.S. states, delivered lectures on over 200 college campuses, and addressed audiences in prisons, boardrooms, and faith-based institutions. His work bridges the gap between activism and academia, blending historical analysis with urgent calls to action.

In March 2024, Shaun King and his wife Rai publicly embraced Islam at Valley Ranch Islamic Center in Dallas, Texas, under the guidance of Imam Omar Suleiman. This spiritual transformation has added a profound dimension to his advocacy, grounding his message in Islamic principles of justice, mercy, and collective responsibility. He now speaks frequently to Muslim audiences, exploring the intersection of faith, resistance, and civil rights.