ContrabandCampers:
Michael Harriot: Founder
When CNN wanted to know the origin of the phrase "woke," they called Michael Harriot. When MSNBC needed someone to explain critical race theory, they called Michael Harriot. When asked to choose one name that embodied the collective ethos of Black Twitter, Michael Harriot was the runaway answer.
Michael Harriot is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, celebrated poet and public historian hailed as "one of the most eloquent writers in America." His NY Times Bestseller Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America is required reading in at least ten universities and numerous colleges have adopted his "Race as an Economic Construct" curriculum, which examines social structures using history, data and the laws of supply and demand.
Michael's acerbic wit, biting commentary, and investigative reporting influence everything from presidential politics to pop culture. As the originator of the phrase “invited to the cookout,” his social media threads contextualizing history are shared by millions, while his award-winning journalism appeared in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, the New York Times and his mother’s refrigerator. His work on the Amber Ruffin Show received a 2021 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. Michael teamed with Pharrell Williams to create the award-winning podcast "Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History."
Michael earned degrees in mass communications and history from Auburn University and a master's degree in macroeconomics and international business from Florida State. His writing has been honored by the National Association of Black Journalists, the Emmys, the Webbys and the American Library Association.
Genetta Adams: Co-founder and Editor-in-chief
Genetta M. Adams is an editor with more than 25 years of experience in the journalism game. She has worked for legacy and digital media, including Newsday, The Associated Press, The Root and theGrio.
The No. 1 thing she’s learned throughout her career is always bet on Black.
Ethan Brown: Co-founder; Senior Editor
Ethan Brown is the Editor-in-Chief of The Garrison Project, an incubator for criminal justice system reporting and analysis housed at Investigative Reporters & Editors. He is also the author of four books about crime and criminal justice policy including Queens Reigns Supreme: Fat Cat, 50 Cent and the Rise of the Hip-Hop Hustler and Murder in The Bayou: Who Killed the Women known as The Jeff Davis 8, a New York Times bestseller.
Ethan lives in New Orleans.
Jeremy Harriot: Digital Media Editor
Jeremy Harriot is a technology advocate whose work aims to empower individuals through training in the use of digital media and technological innovation. Jeremy spends his professional time developing multimedia projects for education, live-streaming events and social media.
Elie Mystal: Contributor
Elie Mystal is The Nation’s justice correspondent and the host of its legal podcast, Contempt of Court. He is also an Alfred Knobler Fellow at the Type Media Center. His first book is the New York Times bestseller Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution, published by The New Press.
Tiffany D. Cross: Contributor
Tiffany D. Cross is a journalist, TV host, podcast host, author, and speaker.
She is the current co-host of iHeart Podcast’s “Native Land Pod” with Angela Rye and Andrew Gillum, which debuted in 2024 on Apple as the number one downloaded podcast in America. Tiffany also hosts “ACross Generations,” with Will Packer Media and iHeart Podcasts, where she convenes multigenerational women to discuss a variety of subjects ranging from our changing perspectives on love and sex to what you might tell your younger self about money and career. Tiffany previously hosted The Cross Connection on MSNBC where she averaged 4.6 million viewers a month.
A 2020 fellow of Harvard’s Institute of Politics, Tiffany has spent more than 20 years navigating politics, media, labor, all communities of color, and the private sector. She is also the author of the best-selling book Say It Louder: Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy.
Stephen A, Crockett Jr.: Contributor
Stephen A. Crockett Jr. is a journalist, political analyst and editor who has worked for The Root, The Washington Post, and the San Jose Mercury News. His opinionated work began around the age of seven, when he successfully argued that the Boy Scouts was not a group he needed to join.
Stephen currently serves as the Opinion Editor for HuffPost.