The Carl Nelson Show radio program and Rock Newman’s Gibraltar Promotions, LLC have teamed up to present, Power Talk 4, the super bowl of scholars. The lecture series has attracted a who’s who of African-American political thinkers over the years, ranging from Dr. Julius Garvey (son of Black Nationalist, Marcus Garvey) to Professor Griff (of the iconic rap group, Public Enemy). Baba Dick Gregory will be honored with the Dr. Frances Cress Welsing Freedom Fighter Award at this year’s event. The award is named after the late Afro-centrist psychiatrist and author of The Isis Papers, who was honored at the second annual convocation on June 20, 2015.
 
The “Power Talk ” lecture series launched in June 2014 with noted speakers offering presentations with overviews of issues affecting African-Americans and providing specific instructions to address the problems. The goal was and is to offer solution-oriented ideas to the series participants. Ultimately, the goal of Power Talk is to transform powerful talk into powerful action that will empower those in attendance.
 
Friday’s lineup of dynamic speakers includes: Dr. Patricia Newton, a noted sexologist; David Banner, producer/activist; Dr. Claud Anderson, an economist; Dr. Ronoko Rashidi, a historian; and Dr. Ray Winbush, Research Professor at Morgan State University. The Saturday speakers include: Tony Browder, a cultural historian; Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Professor at City College of New York;  Dr. Rosalind Jeffries, an art historian; Dr. James Small, a Pan-African scholar; Jefferi Lee, a television executive; and Dr. Umar Johnson, an Afro-Centric psychologist.
 
Baba Dick Gregory began his career as a stand-up comedian in the 1950s and got his big break when Hugh Hefner hired him to perform at The Playboy Club in Chicago. He was one of the first comedians of color to gain a large following of white people. He also became the first African-American humorist to do his comic routine and then, to sit on the couch afterwards to talk to the host, on the late night program, “Tonight Starring Jack Paar.” By the late 1970s, Gregory had shifted his focus from comedy to entrepreneurial activities and social activism. In recent years, the 84-year old Gregory has revived his stand-up comedy career and continues to speak out on various political and social issues.