Xernona Clayton

Who is Xernona Clayton?

Xernona Clayton Brady is an African-American civil rights leader and broadcasting executive. During the African American Civil Rights Movement, she worked for the National Urban League and Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where she became involved in the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Clayton then went into television, where she became the first Southern African-American to host a daily prime time talk show. She became corporate vice president for urban affairs for Turner Broadcasting.

Clayton created the Trumpet Awards Foundation and International Civil Rights Walk of Fame to honor the achievements of African Americans and civil rights advocates. She convinced a Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan to denounce the Klan. Clayton has been honored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the city of Atlanta for her work.