I AM BLACK HISTORY | Luvvie Ajayi Jones

Luvvie Ajayi Jones

Luvvie Ajayi Jones is Black History because she has built a global platform out of courage, conviction, and the unapologetic use of her voice.

Born in Nigeria and raised in Chicago, Luvvie has become one of the most influential cultural commentators and authors of her generation. A four time New York Times bestselling author, internationally recognized speaker, podcast host, and founder of The Book Academy, she is widely known as a “Professional Troublemaker” — someone committed to speaking truth to power for the greater good.

Her work sits at the intersection of literature, digital activism, and cultural preservation. In 2016, Luvvie became the first writer invited to speak at the newly opened National Museum of African American History and Culture, marking a historic moment for contemporary Black voices in literature and thought leadership. That same year, her debut book I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual became a New York Times bestseller, launching her into national prominence.

She followed it with Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, a bold call to live audaciously and challenge fear head on. She expanded that message to younger audiences through Rising Troublemaker and her children’s books Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess and Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name, ensuring that courage and confidence are passed down to the next generation.

Luvvie’s influence extends far beyond the page. Her TED Talk, “Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable,” has amassed over 10 million views and ranks in the top 1 percent of TED Talks worldwide. Through her long running blog Awesomely Luvvie, she has spent more than two decades documenting Black pop culture, calling out injustice, and preserving modern Black narratives in real time. In many ways, she serves as a digital historian of this era.

In 2020, she co created the viral #ShareTheMicNow campaign, which paired prominent Black women with white celebrities who temporarily handed over their Instagram platforms. The initiative generated more than 20 billion impressions globally, shifting visibility and power in a critical cultural moment. Through her #BlackBizLuvv campaign, she helped infuse more than $540,000 into Black owned businesses in a single month.

As founder of The Book Academy, Luvvie mentors and equips aspiring authors, particularly those from marginalized communities, with the tools to navigate the publishing industry. She believes in dismantling gatekeeping and expanding who gets to tell stories and shape culture.

Recognized with honors such as the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work and named to Oprah Winfrey’s SuperSoul 100 list of leaders who elevate humanity, Luvvie Ajayi Jones continues to redefine what leadership looks like in the digital age.

She reminds us that courage is a practice. That discomfort is often the birthplace of growth. And that our voices are not optional — they are necessary.

Black History is not only about the past. It is about who is shaping culture right now.

And Luvvie Ajayi Jones is doing exactly that.