About

Bea L. Hines likes to say she was “baptized with fire” on her first day as a reporter for The Miami Herald in June 1970—covering a major racial disturbance in the city. It was a dramatic start to a groundbreaking career.

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Before joining the newsroom, Hines worked as a domestic and then as a file clerk at The Herald beginning in 1966. With encouragement from friends, she enrolled at Miami-Dade Community College in 1967 and studied journalism while working. In 1970, impressed by her work in the college newspaper, the Managing Editor hired her as the paper’s first Black female reporter.

Though she had minimal training, Hines leaned on her determination and faith to succeed. Over the years, she covered nearly every beat and became known for her issues column—a powerful platform where she became a voice for the voiceless in her community.

To inspire, uplift, and empower through storytelling rooted in truth, faith, and lived experience—giving voice to the unheard, shining light on the overlooked, and reminding every audience that with purpose, persistence, and belief, anything is possible.

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As a speaker, Bea draws from decades of breaking barriers in journalism, her deep commitment to community, and her unwavering faith to connect with audiences of all backgrounds—especially young people, women, and aspiring changemakers.

Bea L. Hines speaks from the heart—with honesty, humility, and purpose. Her method is grounded in personal storytelling, journalistic truth, and spiritual wisdom. She combines her lived experience with a deep understanding of history, culture, and community, using each talk as an opportunity to educate, encourage, and empower.

Whether addressing students, congregations, or professionals, Bea:

• Leads with story – weaving powerful narratives from her life and career to illuminate broader truths.

• Speaks with faith – infusing her words with the values of grace, resilience, and God’s guidance.

• Engages with authenticity – inviting audiences to reflect, ask questions, and find personal connection in her journey.

• Inspires action – leaving listeners with not just hope, but clear purpose and motivation to make a difference.

Her voice is warm, wise, and always real—rooted in decades of listening to others, telling hard truths, and finding light in even the darkest moments.