The Culture Shifters Who Are Leading The Way

Over the past five years, HuffPost has highlighted some of the most brilliant and talented minds in arts and entertainment with the profile series Culture Shifters. Many of these change-makers have succeeded in their industries beyond what we ever might have imagined.

Take Quinta Brunson, for example. When we profiled her in 2020, she was a cast member on “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” making us all laugh with her quick wit and ability to morph into several hilarious characters on the variety series. Fast-forward to today and she is the star and creator of Emmy-winning series “Abbott Elementary,” one of the most popular and beloved sitcoms of the last decade. Countless other talents we’ve profiled have seen their stars continue to rise in the past few years, including Oscar winners Cord Jefferson and Da’Vine Joy Randolph; community builders Naj Austin, Kay Rufai and Papi Juice; bestselling authors Drew Afualo and Alex Aster; and scene-stealing actors Kelvin Harrison Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Bowen Yang.

Our fifth installment of Culture Shifters includes artists, writers, performers and community leaders who are just as talented in their own right. Many of these visionaries have eschewed traditional routes to success — the viral internet star turned TV creator, the musical genius who defies genre, the language consultant who offered an honest and straightforward critique on one of Hollywood’s biggest films — and built communities of admirers in the process. Some of them have spoken out against the lack of representation and inclusion in their industries. And they all have impressed us with their incomparable talents and innovative approaches to creativity.

HuffPost is proud to present our 2024 class of Culture Shifters. Scroll down for a quick look at the list and read more about their work within each profile.