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Welcome

The National Black Police Association (NBPA) is a national organization comprised of sub-regional African American Police Associations whom are dedicated to promoting justice, fairness, and effectiveness in law enforcement. The NBPA has several chartered organizations throughout the United States and has associate members abroad, in Canada, Bermuda, and the United Kingdom. The core focus of NBPA centers upon Law Enforcement issues, with a strong emphasis on the effects of these issues on the community. The NBPA serves as an advocate forum for officers of color, and establishes a national network of professional development and training for all police officers and those parties interested in law enforcement.

Sonia Y.W. Pruitt

National Chairperson

Etan Thomas

Keynote Speaker - 2019 NBPA Conference

Etan Thomas has redefined himself as “The Activist Athlete", and continues the work of a long line of Black athletes, such as Kareem Abdul Jabar and Colin Kaepernick. Thomas is a retired professional basketball player who played nine seasons in the NBA. He is now a published poet, freelance writer, activist, and motivational speaker. He defies the stereotype of the apolitical athlete, planting his roots in his formidable literary career, passion for mentoring, and civic engagement.

His latest work is a book entitled, "We Matter 'Athletes And Activism'", in which Thomas has amassed an amazing collection of interviews intertwined with his own heartfelt commentary. You’ll share the experiences of athletes, activists, media personalities, scholars, and the loved ones of police brutality. "We Matter" was listed as one of the top ten best activism books of all time by Book Authority, and tied for best non-fiction for 2018 by the African-American Literary Awards.

Never afraid to voice his opinions, Thomas was honored for his social justice advocacy as the recipient of the 2010 National Basketball Players Association Community Contribution Award, as well as the 2009 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation, Inc. Legacy Award. Thomas jumps at the opportunity to support civic engagement, especially for under-resourced populations.

He currently writes for The Guardian and has previously written for The Washington Post, Huffington Post, CNN, ESPN, Hoopshype.com and slamonline. He can frequently be seen on MSNBC as a special correspondent for “hot topics", and can be heard on syndicated radio--he co-hosts a weekly local radio show on WPFW 89.3FM, The Collision, where sports and politics collide.