The Silent Labor of BIPOC Speakers: How Unpaid Speaking Engagements Perpetuate Tokenization and Exploitation in the Conference Circuit

Oye, mira.

In the glossy, fast-paced world of conferences and summits, diversity has become a buzzword—often more of a brand statement than a genuine commitment. On stage, the faces of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, women, and other marginalized speakers are paraded as a testament to inclusion. Yet, behind the scenes, these same speakers frequently go unpaid for their time, travel, expertise, and emotional labor, revealing a deeper, systemic problem: tokenization and exploitation masquerading as visibility.

Tokenization in Plain Sight

The unpaid labor of BIPOC speakers at conferences is not a new phenomenon, but it has become more glaring in recent years as corporations and event organizers seek to meet the demands of "diversity." While they may boast of diverse speaker line-ups, the reality is that many conferences, particularly those in tech, academia, and social justice, still expect these speakers to work for free. According to a 2022 study by The Gender and Race Equity Institute, 60% of BIPOC speakers reported not receiving any form of compensation—be it monetary, travel stipends, or waived fees—when speaking at major conferences. This stands in stark contrast to their white counterparts, who are compensated more frequently and at higher rates.

At its core, this practice underscores a larger issue: tokenization. BIPOC speakers are invited not necessarily because of their expertise but to fulfill a diversity quota. Their faces are showcased as proof of an inclusive environment, while their voices and contributions remain underfunded and under-appreciated. The refusal to compensate these speakers not only devalues their work but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes that marginalized individuals should be grateful for "a seat at the table," regardless of whether that seat comes with fair pay.

The Economics of Exploitation

The economics behind unpaid speaking engagements is telling. Major conferences like TEDx, which are often cited as platforms for visibility, notoriously do not pay their speakers. TEDx, in particular, has become a symbol of unpaid labor, with speakers often bearing the costs of travel and accommodation on their own, under the guise of “exposure.” While exposure is valuable, it does not pay bills, nor does it close the wealth gap experienced by many marginalized communities.

Data from The Conference Speakers Bureau shows that 80% of paid keynote speakers at high-profile events are white men, many of whom receive anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000 for a single engagement. Meanwhile, women and BIPOC speakers are frequently offered “free exposure” as compensation. This discrepancy speaks to a broader pattern in the gig economy where marginalized individuals are expected to work for free, further entrenching racial and gender disparities in wealth accumulation.

According to a 2020 report from McKinsey & Company, Black Americans possess only 15% of the wealth held by their white counterparts—a stark racial wealth gap that unpaid labor exacerbates. When BIPOC professionals are asked to contribute without fair compensation, they are denied the opportunity to build financial security, advance their careers, and break the cycle of economic exploitation.

The Emotional Labor of Speaking as a BIPOC Individual

The demand for unpaid speaking engagements becomes even more insidious when considering the emotional labor involved. Many BIPOC speakers are expected to educate predominantly white audiences on race, identity, and equity. This labor—unlike a typical lecture on technical or academic subjects—often involves recounting personal stories of discrimination, trauma, and resilience. Such work takes a profound psychological toll.

Dr. Joy DeGruy, a renowned speaker and researcher on post-traumatic slave syndrome, has written extensively on the psychological impacts of sharing racial trauma in public forums. "Every time we recount our trauma for the sake of ‘education,’ we relive it," DeGruy says. "Yet, when it comes to conferences, BIPOC speakers are asked to provide this deeply personal form of knowledge without even basic compensation."

This emotional labor, which white speakers are rarely asked to provide, is a form of exploitation specific to BIPOC individuals. The conference circuit, which often praises diversity on the surface, is fundamentally structured around the unpaid, underappreciated, and exhausting work of marginalized people.

The Science of Tokenism and Marginalization

Tokenism—the practice of making only a perfunctory or symbolic effort to be inclusive to members of minority groups—has been well-documented in sociological studies. Researchers like Rosabeth Moss Kanter, in her seminal work Men and Women of the Corporation (1977), explained how tokens (minority individuals in predominantly white spaces) are often given superficial visibility but denied real power and resources. This dynamic is alive and well in the conference world.

BIPOC speakers are often invited to "diversify" panels but are rarely given the same levels of influence, visibility, or compensation as white speakers. A study from The American Sociological Review found that BIPOC professionals in predominantly white institutions are often seen as representatives of their race rather than experts in their field, leading to what the researchers call “performance burnout.”

Moreover, BIPOC speakers are disproportionately invited to speak on topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion, reinforcing stereotypes that their expertise is limited to social justice issues. White speakers, on the other hand, are free to speak about a wide range of subjects, from business strategy to technology, without the added pressure of representing their entire race or community. This pigeonholing further limits the career growth of BIPOC professionals, who are typecast and denied opportunities to showcase their full range of expertise.

The Need for Radical Change

As the world slowly awakens to the realities of racial, gender, and economic inequality, the conference industry must be held accountable for its role in perpetuating these systems. Waiving speaker fees and offering “exposure” is a form of modern-day exploitation, where the labor and contributions of marginalized individuals are mined for value without fair compensation. This practice mirrors broader patterns of racial capitalism, where BIPOC labor is used to sustain industries while denying those same individuals a share in the wealth they help create.

It is time for a radical shift in how we value the contributions of BIPOC speakers. First, conferences must commit to paying all speakers fairly, with a transparent pay scale that reflects their expertise and the emotional labor involved. Exposure is not enough—equitable compensation is a basic form of respect and recognition.

Second, event organizers must make travel stipends and accommodation support a standard part of their offer to all speakers, particularly for those from underrepresented backgrounds. For too long, the financial burden of traveling to conferences has fallen on the shoulders of marginalized individuals, who are already economically disadvantaged.

Finally, conferences must move beyond tokenism. If event organizers are serious about inclusion, they must create platforms where BIPOC speakers are not just invited to tick a box but are given real influence, power, and resources to shape the conversation. This includes diversifying the topics BIPOC speakers are invited to address, recognizing their expertise beyond the narrow confines of identity politics.

Unpaid speaking engagements are not just an issue of economics—they are a manifestation of tokenism, exploitation, and racial inequality that permeate our society. For too long, BIPOC individuals have been asked to contribute their voices, experiences, and labor without fair compensation. It is time for the conference industry to reckon with its complicity in perpetuating these injustices and commit to creating spaces that truly value the contributions of all speakers—especially those from marginalized communities.

Without meaningful change, the cycle of exploitation will continue, and the promise of diversity will remain just that—a promise unfulfilled.