Carleton Convo with Xiuhtezcatl Martinez | October 6, 2023

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, environmental activist and hip hop artist, delivered convocation at Carleton's Skinner Chapel on Friday, October 6. He spoke on how climate change is influencing the migration of people in South and Latin America. Martinez is known for his talent for connecting people through popular culture and sharing the message of his Indigenous roots in order to protect the planet and re-imagine the future of the next generation. He is also a founder of Earth Guardians, an organization for empowering and organizing youth to protect the future of the planet.

Since the age of six, Martinez has stood on the front lines of the climate and environmental movement. He has addressed the general assembly at the UN multiple times and spoken on panels with Bernie Sanders, Van Jones, Shailene Woodley, Bill McKibbens, Pharrell Williams, and many others. He has stood to protect sacred land from pipelines and performed all over the world. His music is known to push the envelope of hip hop for what the genre can look and sound like; his lyrics are informed by his Mexican roots and his experiences growing up in the environmental justice movement. 

Recently named one of the TIME100 Next, Martinez has been a guest on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and Real Time with Bill Maher. He has also appeared multiple times on PBS, Showtime, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Upworthy, The Guardian, Vogue, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, CNN, MSNBC, HBO, Netflix, and VICE, and has been photographed by Annie Leibovitz.

Learn more about Carleton Convos at go.carleton.edu/convocations