T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh speaks with the kind of heart felt passion that grabs people and elevates them. Always an impassioned observer of life, T'Keyah wrote her first play in the third grade (a satire on the effects of cigarette smoking). She wrote her first song in the fourth grade (a spiritual tribute to survival) and, outside of the shows in her grandparents' living room, produced her first theatrical show in high school.

A National Merit Scholar, T'Keyah entered Florida A & M University (FAMU) with a scholarship from their prestigious School of Business & Industry. Her first of many honors at FAMU was a business leadership award for outstanding speaker. Two dance companies, three pageant crowns and five plays later she graduated with honors from their Theater department. Back in her hometown Chicago, while waiting for her career to take off, Keymáh served as an elementary substitute teacher, modeled and taught mime and aerobics. Her wide range of talents, charm and never-say-die spirit lead her to singing groups, (more) dance companies, (more) pageants crowns, television, stage and film productions including her celebrated one-woman shows, Some of My Best Friends: A Collection of Characters and T'Keyah Live!.

Though fans remember her remarkable characters and impressions on the Emmy award wining comedy In Living Color, she is equally recognized as Bill Cosby's newest TV daughter on Cosby and now plays Raven~Simone's mom on That's So Raven. Through her busy career she always made time to support various charitable organizations and encourages other to do so.

Drawing also on her experiences as a student, performer, writer, producer and educator, T'Keyah speaks on Youth, Female and African American Empowerment, Overcoming Obstacles, Spiritual Nutrition, and Image Control. Spiced with poetry, humor and songs her messages inspire audiences of all ages.

In October 2001, T'Keyah received a Special President's Award for her distinguished service as speaker for the Homecoming Convocation and in 2000, the Millennium Award for being one of the university's 100 FAMUans of the Century.

TOPICS:

NATURAL WOMAN / NATURAL HAIR - Having worn her hair naturally more than a dozen years straight (pun intended), T'Keyah is a self taught "professional novice" at styling natural hair, an outspoken proponent of the practice and a pioneer of such in modern day prime time television. Her book, Natural Woman / Natural Hair: A Hair Journey, Hairstyles and Hairstories from the Front with simple step-by-step instructions on taking care of your natural hair highlights the beauty of naturally worn hair and demystifies antiquated and oppressive thought about all that is pure and whole. Inspired by questions and comments from fans worldwide, the book includes styles, tips, and poetic words of wisdom for wearers and fans of natural hair. In her candid and humorous talk she weaves a historical blend of her passion for roots and nature. T'Keyah also entertains questions and reads selected passages from the book. "…Locks remind me of…Bob Marley: Sowing sound seeds of salvation. Creating consciousness. Blazing trails of revolutionary thought set to divine music. - Locks remind me of…freedom." TCK, NW/NH - This engaging conversation inspires woman young and not so young to go natural, single dads to try again to brave their daughters heads and audience members across the board to be bold enough to ignore negating media images to love themselves just the way they are and to teach their children to do likewise.

CREATING SUCCESS - As an African American female, T'Keyah has had to leap over many hurdles. She has done so with style and grace. Her philosophy is that "all people have hurdles, some are just higher than others." To succeed against all odds, T'Keyah says people must take stock of themselves and catalog the things they do well. They must practice or study those things until they do them with excellence. Then they must convince others that they should be the ones to do them. Drawing on her years as a successful actress and entrepreneur, T'Keyah offers refreshing inspirations on creating success and standing out in a crowd.

BEING A PART OF THE VILLAGE - There is an African saying, "It takes a village to raise a child." In these times, with so many people afraid of children, T'Keyah reminds people that "we are already a village" and in order to make our village safe and productive, we must recognize that "we are all teachers, mentors, role models and chiefs." When people take responsibility for the young and old people around them, they can't help but benefit themselves. Sharing time sensitive avenues for creative involvement, T'Keyah awakens in people their natural urge to make a commitment to their village and in the process inspires them toward ultimate contentment!

WHAT IF YOU LIVE? - Many of the young people T'Keyah encounters have an I-won't-live-long-anyway, I-may-as-well-go-out-with-a-bang lifestyle. Unfortunately, the statistics prove an alarming number of them right. In this heartfelt talk, T'Keyah draws on her childhood experiences, her years as a teacher and her historical research to infuse young audiences with a message of hope and logic. Her compelling words show that like so many others before them, young people in crisis can beat the odds. Then T'Keyah goes further to give them a plan for survival and success that leaves them thinking differently about their lives.

NATURAL WOMAN / NATURAL LIFE - A vegetarian for seventeen years, T'Keyah has heard every argument for and against animal consumption, read countless books and articles on diets and nutrition and debated experts and civilians on the effects our daily habits have on the earth. She has studied various relaxation techniques and many religions. She has now come down from her soapbox (she says) and has a common sense approach to our individual diets and lifestyles versus our collective consciousness as earthlings. In this informative address, T'Keyah inspires people simply to take care of themselves and their surroundings and to have fun doing it!

IMAGE CONTROL - The television and film industries in the U.S. produce the images that are ingrained in the minds of people internationally. To some extent, these images have given the world a warped and hugely negative view of African Americans, women, Native Americans and others. With humorous and heartbreaking examples, T'Keyah breaks down the effects of media imaging on people's perspective of themselves and others. She opens the dialogue on how we perpetuate these images and how we can work together to turn the tide in a more positive direction. T'Keyah leaves her audience thinking proactively about their relationship to the images that constantly surround them.

If you are interested in booking T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, please send us an email listing all of the following information. 1) The name of your group or organization; 2) the name and number of your contact person; 3) the event for which you would like to invite T’Keyah to come or the show or type of performance you would like for her to give (ex: we would like T’Keyah to speak on the meaning of Kwanzaa, or we would like T’Keyah to speak and recite poetry on the strength of women); 4) a brief history (no more than two paragraphs, please) of your organization or event; 5) the location (address, city and state) of the venue; 6) the date and time you would like her to come (and an alternative date and or time if your first choice is unavailable); and 7) your payment, travel, lodging and per diem offer. Be sure to include all of this information in the body of your email. Because of the viruses that are rampant on the Internet, empty emails with attachments will not be opened. Due to the volume of mail we receive, emails with incomplete information will not be considered. To send your request, Call Adam Plotkin (with all pertinent information) at National Organization of Athletes and Celebrities, 1806 Watermere Lance, Windermere, FL 34786 (888) 550-6672.