Dr. Tony Keith Jr.

is an award-winning Black gay American poet, author, scholar, and Hip-Hop educational leader from Washington, D.C. Known as an “Ed Emcee,” he blends poetry, Hip-Hop culture, and educational leadership to inspire young people and build culturally responsive learning communities. He is the author of How the Boogeyman Became a Poet and Knucklehead, powerful works that explore identity, resilience, hope, and healing. As Founder and CEO of Ed Emcee Academy, Dr. Keith partners with schools, museums, universities, and cultural institutions to amplify student voice and transform learning. A first-generation college graduate, he earned his B.A. from the University of Maryland College Park, his M.Ed. from Penn State University, and his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from George Mason University. His research, scholarship, and poetry are internationally recognized, and his work has taken him to audiences across the United States and countries including South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, and The Netherlands, just to name a few. He has performed at venues including the Kennedy Center, Washington National Cathedral, and Lincoln Theatre. Dr. Keith resides in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 7 with his husband, Harry Christian III.