#22 Baratunde Thurston

Baratunde Thurston grew up in a poor, drug plagued neighborhood in D.C. then spent years in the elite private school Sidwell Friends before being accepted at Harvard. Having straddled these two worlds, Thurston was perfectly positioned to write THE book on race in America which became the New York Times bestseller How To Be Black.  His funny, charming, accessible personality makes him a highly sought-after public speaker and thought leader. He’s now head of digital content on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah.