George Serafeim
Charles M. Williams Professor, Harvard Business School | Pioneer of ESG Strategy | Named One of the Most Influential People in ESG Investing by Barron's
John McWhorter
Bestselling Author & Columbia Linguist | New York Times Columnist | Host, Lexicon Valley Podcast | Expert on Language, Race & Culture
Speaker John McWhorter is a Columbia University linguist, New York Times columnist, and one of America's most original public intellectuals on language, race, and culture. Bestselling author of Woke Racism, Nine Nasty Words, and Pronoun Trouble, he combines scholarship on Creole languages and historical linguistics with sharp, accessible commentary on the debates shaping modern life. He challenges audiences to think harder and see culture more clearly.
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John McWhorter biography
Speaker John McWhorter is a Columbia University linguist, prolific author, and one of the most influential public intellectuals writing today on language, race, and American culture. Born in Philadelphia and trained at Rutgers, NYU, and Stanford, where he earned his Ph.D. in linguistics, he brings the same scholarly rigor to the origin of Creole languages and the inner workings of grammar that he brings to the most heated cultural debates of the moment.
At Columbia, McWhorter teaches in the linguistics, American studies, and music history programs. His academic work on Creole languages and the evolution of English grammar has shaped the field, while his books, including The Power of Babel, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue, Talking Back, Talking Black, Nine Nasty Words, and Pronoun Trouble, have brought serious linguistics to a wide general readership with humor, clarity, and a refusal to talk down to the reader.
From the Classroom to the National Conversation
Outside the lecture hall, McWhorter writes a regular column for The New York Times and contributes to The Atlantic, hosts the popular Lexicon Valley podcast on Slate, and has built one of the most distinctive voices in American media. His bestseller Woke Racism argued, controversially, that a new strain of anti-racism is hurting Black communities rather than helping them, and made him a central figure in debates over identity, language, and free thought. His TED talks on texting and language learning have been viewed millions of times.
As a speaker, John McWhorter blends deep scholarship with cultural commentary in a way few academics can match. His keynotes leave audiences with a sharper understanding of how words work, why dialects matter, and how language shapes identity and belief. Booked through Aurum Speakers Bureau, he gives organizations a thoughtful, often surprising lens on the cultural debates that define our moment.
John McWhorter Speaking Videos
John McWhorter - 4 reasons to learn a new language
John McWhorter - Talking Back, Talking Black
John McWhorter Keynote Topics
In this lively, eye-opening keynote, John McWhorter dismantles the popular myth that texting is destroying English. Instead, he shows how texting represents a new mode of communication, what he calls 'fingered speech', that reflects the same linguistic creativity that has driven language change for millennia. Audiences walk away with a fresh, optimistic perspective on how digital language is enriching, not ruining, the way humans communicate.
Why should anyone learn a new language in a world where English already dominates? In this engaging talk, McWhorter offers four compelling, often counterintuitive answers that go far beyond travel and career. From unlocking new ways of seeing the world to strengthening cognitive flexibility, he makes a passionate case for language learning as a tool for personal growth, intellectual range, and deeper human connection.
Drawing on his acclaimed book, this keynote explores the rich linguistic complexity of African American Vernacular English. McWhorter challenges long-standing misconceptions and shows how AAVE follows its own consistent grammatical rules and historical development. Audiences leave with a deeper appreciation of AAVE as a legitimate, rule-governed language shaped by history, migration, and culture rather than as 'broken English'.
Drawing on his bestseller Woke Racism, McWhorter argues that a new, performative strain of anti-racism is undermining the very communities it claims to defend. With characteristic wit and rigor, he makes a controversial but carefully argued case for a different approach to race, education, and social policy, one rooted in evidence rather than ideology. Audiences leave with a sharper, more nuanced view of one of the most contentious debates in American life.
Based on his book Pronoun Trouble, this keynote traces how seven small English words have shaped, and been reshaped by, our deepest debates over gender, identity, and grammar itself. McWhorter uses the surprising history of pronouns to illuminate broader questions about how language evolves and how cultural change actually happens. Equal parts historical, humorous, and provocative.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking John McWhorter
Why John McWhorter?
John McWhorter is one of the few public intellectuals who can move from cutting-edge linguistics to AAVE to cancel culture to opera in a single keynote without ever losing the audience. As a Columbia professor, New York Times columnist, podcast host, and author of more than twenty books, he brings serious scholarship and sharp cultural commentary to every stage. His combination of wit, contrarian honesty, and academic depth makes him a favorite of corporate, university, and policy audiences. Book John McWhorter through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring one of America's most original thinkers to your event.
What are John McWhorter's most famous books?
McWhorter has written more than twenty books on linguistics and culture, including The Power of Babel, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue, Talking Back, Talking Black, Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter, the 2021 bestseller Woke Racism, and his 2025 work Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words. His writing translates serious linguistic and cultural ideas for general readers with humor and clarity.
What does John McWhorter speak about?
McWhorter speaks on how language evolves, why dialects like AAVE matter, the politics of words and pronouns, the state of higher education, and the cultural debates around race, identity, and free thought. He tailors keynotes for corporate, academic, and policy audiences and blends linguistics, history, and current commentary in ways few academics can match. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring John McWhorter to your stage with a keynote built around your audience and theme.
Where does John McWhorter teach and write?
John McWhorter is an associate professor of linguistics at Columbia University, where he also teaches in American studies and music history. He writes a regular column for The New York Times, contributes essays to The Atlantic, and hosts the Lexicon Valley podcast on Slate. His combination of academic appointments and major media platforms makes him one of the most visible American intellectuals working today.
How to book John McWhorter as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book John McWhorter as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about John McWhorter's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for John McWhorter or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is John McWhorter speaking fee?
John McWhorter speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire John McWhorter to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book John McWhorter.
How can I contact John McWhorter?
We only work with John McWhorter on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking John McWhorter and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having John McWhorter speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact John McWhorter for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book John McWhorter for a virtual keynote?
Yes, John McWhorter is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book John McWhorter for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
