Eric Ward

Eric K. Ward is a Black civil-rights strategist, organizer, and writer whose work examines how white nationalism, antisemitism, racism, and political violence threaten inclusive democracy. As the Executive Vice President of Race Forward and Senior Fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center, he has spent more than three decades working across grassroots movements, philanthropy, cultural strategy, and national civil-rights organizations. Ward is the author of “Skin in the Game,” a widely cited essay on white nationalism and antisemitism, and co-producer of the documentary “White With Fear”. The first U.S. recipient of the Civil Courage Prize, his work is rooted in the Black freedom struggle and a belief that democracy is defended through belonging, courage, and collective responsibility. Eric is a Salzburg Global Fellow.