April Reign practiced law for nearly twenty years, honing her talent for public speaking, persuasive writing and effecting policy change, but it wasn’t until she walked away from her legal practice that she found her true passion.
As the creator of the viral hashtag-turned-movement, #OscarsSoWhite, April has been challenging the lack of representation of marginalized communities in Hollywood and beyond since 2015. Reign sustains a movement that has resulted in the most permanent systemic change ever seen in the over 80-year history of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Her name continues to be synonymous with this historic change, the results of which are reverberating throughout the entertainment industry and will do so for decades to come.
She has now partnered with Overture Global, a New York-based media company, to launch Ensemble, a digital content studio to accelerate opportunities around content and development in front of and behind the camera for people of color. Reign is also part of the founding cohort for She Will Rise, a grassroots campaign to support the nomination and confirmation of the first Black Woman to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Reign is an influential and sought-after media presence, having built an impressive global organic social media following over several platforms, as well as a network of recognized celebrities, creators, activists, and decision makers at the corporate level.
Reign capitalizes on this network and her experience, using her voice to spark conversations and explore issues of race, politics and culture, helping structure ways to turn dialogue into action.
April is a sought-after advocate, consultant, writer, speaker and interviewer regarding issues of diversity and inclusion, and on the representation of all marginalized communities in the arts, tech and entertainment. Her work includes constant dialogue with media as well as collaborations with Procter & Gamble, Twitter, Google NextGen, AARP, HBO and more.
[SHARE]
Expert DirectLink
-
Ketanji Brown Jackson Would Finally Give Black Women The Voice We Deserve On The Supreme Court
ELLE [March 23, 2022] -
Civil rights activists are prepared to fight for Jackson's nomination to the court
NPR [March 4, 2022] -
"She Will Rise" on the importance of having a Black woman on the Supreme Court: "We believe that representation is important"
CBS Saturday Morning [February 26, 2022] -
President Biden Promised to Nominate a Black Woman to the Supreme Court: Meet the Women Fighting to Make it Happen
People [July 29, 2021] -
Meet April Reign, The Activist Who Created #OscarsSoWhite
Huffington Post [February 27, 2016] -
#OscarsSoWhite: a 10-point plan for change by the hashtag's creator
The Guardian [February 25, 2016] -
#OscarsSoWhite create on Oscar noms: 'Don't tell me that people of color, women cannot fill seats'
LA Times [January 14, 2016] -
Is Hillary 'Ready' for Black Voters?
Ebony [April 13, 2015] -
GMB's Piers Morgan leaves 'Oscars So White' campaigner unimpressed after awkward interview
Good Morning Britain w/ Piers Morgan [January 19, 2016] -
Could lack of diversity in Oscar nominees lead to a boycott?
Today Show [January 18, 2016] -
Oscar Nominations
CNN Tonight [January 14, 2016] -
News One Now: #OscarsSoWhite
News One Now w/ Roland Martin [March 24, 2015] -
Oscars members list: one small step toward a more diverse Academy
The Guardian [June 30, 2016] -
#OscarsSoWhite creator on academy list: 'A lot of work still must be done'
LA Times [June 29, 2016] -
Orange Is the New Black, Except in the Writer’s Room
Essence [June 24, 2016] -
The new Roots reclaims our past. Next step: claim our own future
The Guardian [June 1, 2016] -
Women to Know
Hello Beautiful