Standing strong for Black, Native American, and Afro Indigenous peoples, inspiring change, reclaiming identity, and using every platform to share wisdom, educate, and awaken truth for future generations.

As an Afro-Indigenous activist, organizer, cultural critic, and decolonial thinker, Starks is an enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation with Shawnee, Yuchi, and Quapaw ancestry. Her work centers on the shared histories and futures of Black and Native peoples. Through advocacy for Black liberation, Indigenous sovereignty, and the abolition of blood quantum, she strives to affirm and uplift the interconnected identities of Afro-Indigenous communities. Starks calls for unity and solidarity, encouraging Black and Indigenous peoples to stand together rather than divide their struggles (Starks, 2021). 

Mvskoke, A. S. A. (2021, September 22). Envisioning black liberation and indigenous sovereignty. U.S. Department of Arts and Culture. 

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As a Black and Saginaw Chippewa scholar and writer, Mays serves as an assistant professor at UCLA, specializing in history, African American studies, and American Indian studies. He is the author of An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States, which examines the interconnected struggles of Black and Native peoples in the pursuit of freedom (Mayes, 2023). 

Kyle Mays. (n.d.). Home.

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As an Afro-Indigenous motivational speaker, activist, and model from the Shinnecock Reservation in New York, and former Miss Native American USA (2017–2018), she advocates for Indigenous rights, body positivity, mental health, and cultural pride. Her journey from the reservation to college inspired her mission to challenge stereotypes and raise Indigenous visibility through education and representation. Guided by the principle of acting for the “seventh generation,” Williams empowers youth to embrace their identity and strives to leave a legacy of love, unity, and healing (Carrion, 2022).  

Carrion, T. (2022, October 25). Autumn Rose Williams leads a discussion on Afro-Indigeneity and empowerment at AU. Theeagleonline.com. 

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As a Blackfoot journalist and former track champion from the Kainai Blood Tribe in Lethbridge, Alberta, a 2017 Tom Longboat Award recipient, she’s known for her athletic excellence and advocacy for Indigenous youth. Now a journalist, Joy amplifies Indigenous voices through powerful storytelling, with work featured in  The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, CBC, and The Walrus. Passionate about health, representation, and community, she continues to inspire others through her writing and mentorship. She speaks to the challenges of representing a diverse community and the shared pain caused by racial and Indigenous injustices (Morris, 2025). 

Home. (n.d.). Joyspearchiefmorris.

Photo by Natalia Weichsel 

As an Indigenous artist, dancer, and visionary, he is known for shaping urban street dance culture worldwide. With a background in musical theater and a BFA in Musical Theatre and Dance, his artistry bridges stage performance with underground movements like waacking and vogue. Founder of the Imperial House of Waacking and International Father of the Iconic House of Ultra Omni, King Aus has united straight and LGBTQ+ communities through creativity and respect for culture. His collaborations span icons like Kendrick Lamar, Tyra Banks, and A Tribe Called Red. A teacher, activist, and cultural ambassador, King Aus continues to inspire and heal through dance, honoring Indigenous, African, and Native American traditions while empowering “The People” through movement and expression (Jordan). 

King aus. (n.d.). RACINES FESTIVAL. 

As a mixed Black and Oglala Lakota activist, she embodies empowerment, healing, and justice. Born during the height of the American Indian Movement, she continues her family’s legacy of activism through social, environmental, and racial justice work. Known for her dynamic “edu-tainment” approach, she uses music, media, and public speaking to unite communities. Queen YoNasDa has led national movements like #BMoreYouthRise and Hip Hop 4 Flint, championing equality and community empowerment. Even after her Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, she founded Revolutionary Healing to promote holistic wellness for marginalized groups. Her life stands as a powerful example of resilience, love, and leadership, inspiring generations to rise together for justice and healing (Yonasda, 2017).

About. (n.d.). Yonasda.  

Picture by Supreme Allah