Jesse Holland

Director of the Planet Forward Frontline Climate Fellowship | George Washington University

Jesse J. Holland is a distinguished journalist, educator and author renowned for his impactful storytelling that challenges perspectives and reshapes narratives. His writing prowess extends across multiple genres, with award-winning nonfiction works including "The Invisibles: The Untold Story of African American Slaves Inside the White House" and "Black Men Built The Capitol: Discovering African American History in and Around Washington, D.C." In fiction, he's known for his novels "Black Panther: Who Is The Black Panther?"—the groundbreaking introduction of the iconic superhero into literature—and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Finn’s Story." Additionally, Holland has garnered acclaim as an editor, leading the anthology "Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda" and slated to helm the forthcoming "Captain America: The Shield of Sam Wilson." Beyond his literary accomplishments, Jesse serves as a guest host on C-SPAN's Washington Journal and holds the position of associate director at The George Washington University's School of Media & Public Affairs. With a background as a Race & Ethnicity Reporter at the Associated Press, a columnist at MSNBC.com and as a visiting scholar at prestigious institutions like the Library of Congress and the University of Arkansas, Jesse continues to contribute to the discourse on social issues. Currently, he's engaged in various projects including writing his next nonfiction book, producing his first documentary and offering guidance to aspiring nonfiction authors.