Juneteenth and Gay Pride

In this topic I discuss the intersection of being Black and queer from the perspective of an ally. I make the argument that "we are not free until we are all free." In my book I take a unique approach to discussing support for the LGBTQI community. I make the argument that the bar for what constitutes "harm" is relegated to physical violence. But when causing harm is reduced to simply physical violence we fail to even recognize other sorts of micro-aggression they experience--especially at the hands at those of us who consider ourselves an ally. This ultimately harms the Black community as a whole.

#RideBeyond: Women's History Month

I created an initiative called #RideBeyond, in which my book, "Ride-Or-Die: A Feminist Manifesto For The Well-Being of Black Women," is now being taught in a prison in MD. This talk focuses on historical figures who have centered prison reform, especially female trailblazers on this subject.

Professional Development

Deconstructing the "ride-or-die" trope and exploring how it manifests at work. In this topic I unpack how women, particularly women of color, sometimes attempt to prove our worth through excessive labor without even realizing it. I designed it to be an engaging and interactive topic so the audience walks away with strategies to identify this pattern in themselves and ways to avoid it, and by default reducing burnout.

Reimagining the "Soft Life"

Reimagining the "Soft Life." In 2023 the concept of the "soft life" was inescapable. Women were talking about booking house cleaning services, taking more trips, and going to the spa. I love it all! However, in 2024 I want us to reimagine this concept independent of these lovely, but expensive factors. Plus, you can be on a first class flight to your dream location but unable to enjoy it because you haven't made a mindset shift. Reframing your internal dialogue also includes refraining from talking to yourself extremely hard. For example, I was guilty of telling myself the harshest things about a relationship as a way to "let go." "Girl, he never loved you." In reality, a better reframe would be something like you both gave each other what you were supposed to and now the relationship is over. I also used to re-read old text arguments as a way to remind myself what I walked away from. That only retriggers a person, and it's a toxic habit. Beyond relationships, reimagining a soft life applies to every aspect of our lives ( career, motherhood, etc.). I had to learn to stop feeling guilty about refusing to measure myself against professional and motherhood standards that did not align. That is definitely part of creating a soft life.

Going Beyond 444: Moving Hip-Hop into the next 50 years by figuring out how we address intra community harm

Centering the framework of restorative justice as a way to address harm and promote healing without using cancel culture as a one-size fit all approach.

Based on a chapter in Hubbard's book, "Ride or Die," about Jay Z's song "444." In the chapter, and in this keynote, she unpacks the cultural impact of the song but also makes the argument that Black women deserve more than apologies for harm that was done to them — they deserve restoration. The chapter does not center the relationship between Jay and Beyonce, rather it unpacks the framework of restorative justice and how this should be implemented in communities to repair harm, instead of stopping at 444 moments, which is simply a public apology.

Hip-hop, Black Women, and Black Liberation

Feminism is the way forward.