Jaquial Durham is a multi-hyphenate social justice champion. The South Carolina native has spent over a decade actively engaged in various outreach initiatives to uplift and empower marginalized communities. He is also a passionate cultural enthusiast dedicated to exploring the rich tapestry of African American history, which drives him to continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of those around him. His advocacy for social-political issues that encompass race, prison culture and gender have been at the forefront of his work.

Durham has spent countless years fostering a community that continues to expand by actively participating in a wide range of initiatives that aim to address systemic inequalities and promote positive change. In 2012, he initiated the annual “Jaquial & Community Turkey Drive,” which has consistently provided nutritious meals to over 125 households in Pickens, Oconee and Anderson counties. To date, this widespread campaign has supported over 10,000 families. In 2017, Durham addressed the students and faculty at Winthrop University, where he spoke about the importance of financial literacy, mainly directed toward Black and brown populations striving to improve the quality of their lives. In the same year, young change agent was nominated for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Building a Dream Award in Winston-Salem, NC. Possessing a deep-seated belief in the power of people and civic engagement, Durham has worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between entertainment and education with the goal of fostering understanding and curating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. As the CEO of Public Culture Entertainment Group, an entity focused on raising public awareness about the myriad of components that influence culture, Durham spearheads the company’s TV/film projects and cultivates unique apparel capsules that showcase prominent African American figures, organizations and landmarks often absent from historical dialogue. The ambitious, young go-getter prolifically uses creative activism to amplify the voices, stories and experiences of those often overlooked. His visionary brilliance can be seen in the groundbreaking documentary Southern Prison Culture, a cinematic film highlighting the challenges individuals face within the system and fiercely advocating for much-needed reforms.

Durham’s documentary has sparked essential conversations and raised awareness about the issues facing the incarcerated population, and shedding light on the need for more significant support and resources for those affected. As a result of the film’s success, Durham has received prestigious awards like the Milan Gold Award, the Austin Lift-Off Film Festival Award and the London International Film Festival Award.

Durham has been a driving force behind various social justice reforms, calling for equitable and inclusive policies and practices. His unwavering dedication to helping others earned him widespread recognition that included opportunities to lecture at colleges such as American University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Clemson University and Texas State University. Durham was honored by Grammy-Award Winning rapper Killer Mike, who has respect and credibility within the culture. His dedication to the development of higher education institutions in America has led him to refine his intellectual and creative genius relentlessly. While Durham received a bachelor’s in African and African American Studies with a minor in Women and Gender Studies from Winston-Salem State University, he is pursuing a Ph.D.from Clemson University in Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design.