Ayanna Thompson is a professor of English at Arizona State University and the director of the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. She is a Shakespeare scholar, a consultant, and an expert on race in performance in Renaissance drama. She is the author of several books, including “Blackface” (2021).

Nisi Shawl is a writer of speculative fiction. Their story collection Filter House co-won the James Tiptree, Jr. Award, given annually to works of speculative fiction which explore and expand our understanding of gender roles.

Syreeta McFadden is a writer and professor of English at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York.

Laila Lalami is a Moroccan-American writer and a professor of creative writing at the University of California, Riverside.

Ellen Oh is an author and the co-founder of the organization We Need Diverse Books. She writes fiction for middle-grade and young adult audiences, including the Prophecy fantasy series.

Daniel José Older writes young adult science fiction and fantasy, including the Bone Street Rumba and Shadowshaper Cypher series.

Hua Hsu is an assistant professor of English and director of American Studies at Vassar College and a staff writer at The New Yorker.