About
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Established in 1997Quay's speaking career began in 1997 after a major racial incident at Penn Manor High School in Lancaster, PA. At that first assembly, he shared about his book, Bus America: Revelation of a Redneck; a memoir which chronicles his 9-week, 37-state journey around the country by Greyhound bus. Through specific stories about his childhood, his life, and the bus trip, he captivated the audience with how and why he abandoned his racist views as he interacted with a wide range of people all over America.
Since that initial assembly, he's done more than 1,300 presentations in over a dozen states and 3 countries. His simple and honest approach to race relations have made him a popular speaker known for his ability to connect with very diverse audiences. |
Quay's GoalHuman relations are a complicated thing. It's rare that someone walks out of an assembly with a complete change of mind. That being said, the first step of the process is to make people think. That's what Quay tries to do in every type of speaking engagement; just make people think about their own lives and the people they interact with every day.
Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Quay's hope is that people of all backgrounds are able to take something away from his assemblies that will force them to examine their lives. It is this examination that opens the door to conversation which ultimately leads to reconciliation. It takes courage to be able to do this and Quay's hope is that people walk away encouraged. |
Quay Hanna
In 1993, Quay set out on a mission. After graduating from Bloomsburg University (PA) with a B.A. in English, he left his small town of Strasburg, PA to see America. He hopped on a Greyhound bus and began traversing the country. Nine weeks, thirty-seven states, and twelve-thousand miles later, he got more than an incredible journey and hundreds of stories to tell. As he traveled he was forced to confront his own racist and prejudiced beliefs, making him realize that he had more to offer the world than his lifelong hatred of others. Upon his return to Strasburg he had a new objective: to reach out to his subculture- rural, white America – and to challenge racist beliefs as his were challenged on the trip.
In 1997 Quay published a book about his life-changing experience entitled, Bus America: Revelation of a Redneck and began telling his story to audiences around the country. Almost two decades later, he is still entertaining and educating students on a daily basis. It is just a man in his t-shirt and blue jeans with a microphone. No multimedia. No magic tricks. No stand-up routine. Quay presents in a simple and honest way that has caused hundreds of thousands of students to take an introspective look at their lives.
Quay’s programs are extremely effective in schools that are looking to be proactive towards student relations or for schools that are currently struggling with issues of racism, prejudice, and hatred. Either way, Quay’s participation in your school will help put it on the path towards student reconciliation.
In 1997 Quay published a book about his life-changing experience entitled, Bus America: Revelation of a Redneck and began telling his story to audiences around the country. Almost two decades later, he is still entertaining and educating students on a daily basis. It is just a man in his t-shirt and blue jeans with a microphone. No multimedia. No magic tricks. No stand-up routine. Quay presents in a simple and honest way that has caused hundreds of thousands of students to take an introspective look at their lives.
Quay’s programs are extremely effective in schools that are looking to be proactive towards student relations or for schools that are currently struggling with issues of racism, prejudice, and hatred. Either way, Quay’s participation in your school will help put it on the path towards student reconciliation.