Today’s Social & Political Environment
Peabody and two-time Emmy-winning correspondent, producer, and author ANTONIA HYLTON addresses America’s most pressing headlines with nuance and grace. Her experience reporting on stories at the intersection of politics, civil rights, and immigration imbued her with a distinct talent for covering hard-hitting topics while still leaving audiences inspired to champion change. Whether presenting, moderating, or in conversation, Hylton respectfully engages with some of the most difficult questions in our society today.
Author Talk: ‘Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum’
Award-winning journalist and author ANTONIA HYLTON uses her book Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum as a starting point for a critical discussion of the legacy of race and mental health. She explores the role that race and stigma have played out in both historic and present-day mental health outcomes, drawing on exhaustive research as well as her personal family story. Engaging, historically grounded, and deeply informative, Hylton provides audiences with snapshots of mental wellness in the U.S. both yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Self-Care & the Future of Mental Healthcare
Award-winning correspondent and producer ANTONIA HYLTON addresses the solutions and protective factors that experts believe would help tackle the mental health crisis in America. Drawing on both the research and her experience reporting on the issue, she empowers her audience to face the complexity of mental health challenges – so we can take action to help the people around us. The research shows that all children – Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian – are in dire need of additional support, greenspace, and community. Hylton’s riveting presentation can be tailored to the specific interests of any audience, from kindergarteners to corporate executives.
Mental Health and Mass Incarceration
As an award-winning reporter and author, ANTONIA HYLTON breaks down the connections between our broken mental healthcare system and the growth of the prison system across the U.S. Drawing on a wealth of investigative research, Hylton traces the legacy of slavery to the treatment of Black people’s bodies and minds in our current mental healthcare system, and its complex relationship to our prison system. Leveraging her expertise in reporting on complex topics and trauma with clarity and nuance, Hylton offers an informative perspective on these interconnected systems both past and present, and what their outcomes mean for mental health care in the future.
Textbook Wars: The Fight for America's Schools
With deep experience reporting at the intersection of politics and education, award-winning journalist ANTONIA HYLTON talks about the growing movement to defund public education. She provides firsthand accounts of how national polarization transforms local communities. In this eye-opening presentation, Hylton leads audiences to consider roles and responsibilities of education, ending with a clear call to action to secure America’s future.
Cancer Journey: The Relief & Empowerment of Diagnosis
Acclaimed journalist ANTONIA HYLTON offers her personal journey with a rare cancer diagnosis in this personal and impactful talk. Hylton was diagnosed with a rare form of colon cancer, and felt a sense of relief and also empowerment – that she took action to understand the symptoms she was experiencing. Now, Hylton has conquered colon cancer and is an outspoken advocate for preventative care and screenings. In this personal and uplifting talk, Hylton shares the lessons she learned to listen to herself and her symptoms, put herself and her symptoms first, and balance her health and wellbeing with her stunning professional career.
Event Success Story: Antonia Hylton provided a moving keynote address at the 2024 Sozosei Summit to Decriminalize Mental Illness
Peabody and two-time Emmy award-winning correspondent ANTONIA HYLTON inspired audiences with her powerful keynote address and book signing at the 2024 Sozosei Summit to Decriminalize Mental Illness. Hylton read from her New York Times bestseller, Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum, before sharing thoughtful remarks on the legacy of racism, misogyny, and stigma against those with mental illness to address the continued impact of those structures. Hylton’s speech touched every audience member, and the Sozosei Foundation shared warm praise following the event: “Antonia was AMAZING! We were honored to have her with us.”
Acclaimed journalist Antonia Hylton overcame a rare cancer diagnosis and empowers audiences to put their health first
While acclaimed journalist ANTONIA HYLTON has made a difference sharing other peoples’ stories, she offers her personal journey with a rare cancer diagnosis in this personal and impactful talk. Hylton was working at the top of her field, traveling the world fulfilling her professional dreams as an award-winning journalist. But she was experiencing symptoms, and eventually Hylton was diagnosed with a rare form of colon cancer. With her diagnosis, Hylton felt a sense of relief, and also empowerment – that she took action to understand the symptoms she was experiencing. Now, Hylton has conquered colon cancer and is an outspoken advocate for preventative care and screenings. In this personal and uplifting talk, Hylton shares the lessons she learned to listen to herself and her symptoms, put herself and her symptoms first, and balance her health and wellbeing with her stunning professional career.
Antonia Hylton’s ‘Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum’ shines a light on a dark corner of U.S. history
Award-winning correspondent, producer, and author ANTONIA HYLTON’s book Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum thoughtfully addresses a dark corner of U.S. history. Hylton traces the legacy of slavery to the treatment of Black people’s bodies and minds in our current mental healthcare system. This book is a captivating and heartbreaking meditation on how America decides who is sick or criminal, and who is worthy of our care or irredeemable. New York Times bestselling author Clint Smith describes Madness as “a book that left me breathless.” Join Hylton for a cutting exploration of America’s little-known histories, and how they impact our lives and our communities today.
Women Making History: Antonia Hylton tells important stories
Award-winning correspondent, producer, and author ANTONIA HYLTON has dedicated her career to telling important stories, and she shares her research, insights, and nuanced perspective in compelling talks. Much of her reporting sits at the intersection of politics, civil rights, and immigration. Hylton won an Emmy for "Zero Tolerance," an episode of HBO's VICE News Tonight focusing on a Guatemalan family's reunification after being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. At VICE, she covered the protests in Puerto Rico and efforts by Florida lawmakers to prevent felons from reclaiming their voting rights. She earned a NAMIC Vision Award for reporting on violence and politics in Chicago. She continues to address difficult issues in her work as a correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC as well as co-host of the hit podcasts Southlake and Grapevine, and author of the book Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum. Hylton’s thoughtful work addresses today’s most important social issues, and how these narratives will impact our work to build stronger communities and a better future, together.
Watch Antonia Hylton on a VICE News Tonight special report >>
Antonia Hylton is a Peabody and two-time Emmy award-winning Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. She is also the co-host of the hit podcasts Southlake and Grapevine, and author of the book MADNESS: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum.
From 2016 to 2020, Antonia was a Correspondent and Producer for Vice Media and HBO’s nightly news and documentary show, Vice News Tonight. Since 2019, she has also served as an annual judge for the American Mosaic Journalism Prize.
Antonia’s won several awards, including an Emmy for the HBO special episode on the family separation crisis, two Gracie Awards for her stories about women, a NAMIC Vision Award for reporting on violence and politics in Chicago, and two Front Page Awards for special reporting and breaking news.
Antonia graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 2015, where she received prizes for her writing and investigative research on race, mass incarceration, and the history of psychiatry.
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