Keith Boykin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keith Boykin
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St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
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Keith Boykin is an American TV and film producer, a political expert who shares his views on national news, and a writer. He also used to work for President Bill Clinton at the White House. In 2022, he wrote a book about his life called Quitting: Why I Left My Job to Live a Life of Freedom.
Early Life and Education
Keith Boykin grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He later moved to Clearwater, Florida, when he was fifteen. His father started a beauty supply business there.
In school, Keith was very interested in government and leadership. He was involved in student government and played sports like track-and-field and wrestling. He even became president of his school's student government in Florida. He was also an editor for the school newspaper. Keith was a great debater and a top athlete.
In 1983, Keith started college at Dartmouth College. He won an award called the William S. Churchill Prize in his first year. Later, in 1987, he won the Barrett Cup for being the most outstanding student in his graduating class.
After Dartmouth, Keith worked for Michael Dukakis's campaign to become president. Then, in 1989, he began studying at Harvard Law School. While there, he helped edit a law journal. He also joined a student group called The Coalition for Civil Rights. This group worked to make sure the law school had a diverse group of teachers.
Career Highlights
After finishing law school in 1992, Keith Boykin worked at a law firm in San Francisco. But he soon left to join Bill Clinton's campaign for president. He helped manage the press in the Midwest.
When Bill Clinton won, Keith joined the White House. He was a special assistant to the President. He also worked as the Director of News Analysis. Later, he became the Director of Specialty Media. In 1993, Keith helped set up an important meeting. It was the first time a U.S. president met with groups working for fairness and equal rights for all people.
In 1995, Keith left the White House to write his first book. It was called One More River to Cross: Black and Gay in America. This book talked about the special challenges faced by Black people who are also part of the LGBTQ community. He later wrote another book, Beyond the Down Low: ..., Lies, and Denial in Black America, which became a New York Times bestseller.
Later in 1995, Keith became the head of the National Black Gay and Lesbian Forum. This group worked to support Black LGBTQ individuals. Keith said this was a very important job for him. They organized a big group for the Million Man March. They also held national meetings and opened an office in Washington, D.C.
In 2000, Keith spoke at a large march in Washington for LGBTQIA rights. From 1999 to 2001, he taught political science at American University. In 2001, he moved to New York City. There, he helped start the National Black Justice Coalition in 2003.
In 2004, Keith Boykin and his partner at the time, Nathan Hale Williams, made TV history. They were the first Black couple who were open about their identity to appear on a reality TV show. This was on the Showtime series "American Candidate."
In 2006, Keith became a co-host of a TV show called "My Two Cents" on the BET J channel. This show talked about current events important to Black audiences. He also helped produce a film called "Dirty Laundry."
From 2008 to 2016, Keith was a regular contributor for CNBC. From 2017 to 2022, he worked as a contributor for CNN. He has also appeared on many other news channels. These include VH1, BET, MSNBC, Fox News, and NPR.
Keith has also been on many other TV shows. He has been featured in magazines like A&U, Out, and The Advocate. He was even named one of Out Magazine's "Out 100" in 2004. His writings have appeared in major newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Personal Life
Keith Boykin comes from a family with an interesting history. His great-great-grandfather, Rev. John H. Dickerson, was a pastor. He also led a group called the Prince Hall Affiliated Masons of Florida. Keith's great-grandfather, Horatio Dickerson, was a soldier. He served in an all-Black military group called the Harlem Hellfighters during World War I. His grandfather, John H. Dickerson Sr., was a school principal in Florida.
In 1996, Keith shared more about his personal life in his book One More River to Cross: Black & Gay in America.
In 2006, Keith won a gold medal in wrestling at the Gay Games. In 2015, he met his biological father, John Dickerson, who was a chemist.
After the death of Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 2016, Keith went to Castro's funeral procession in Santiago de Cuba. He went with his Cuban partner at the time.
In 2022, Keith Boykin moved to Los Angeles. He also still has a home in New York City. He has two godsons whom he thinks of as his own sons.
Published Books
- One More River to Cross: Black & Gay in America, 1996
- Respecting the Soul: Daily Reflections for Black Lesbians and Gays, 1999
- Beyond the Down Low: ..., Lies, and Denial in Black America, 2004
- For Colored Boys Who Have Considered ...: When The Rainbow Is Still Not Enough, 2012
- Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America, 2021
- Quitting: Why I Left My Job to Live a Life of Freedom, 2022
- Why Does Everything Have to Be About Race?, 2024
Images for kids
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Keith Boykin
