Kyla Jenee Lacey
Kyla Jenee Lacey is an artist most known for her poetry and her quippy online personality. Initially, making her way into entertainment via performing at colleges, she is now the co-host of an online poetry show, a writer for theHubNews. Kyla’s work has been referenced in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Tamron Hall, the Atlantic, NYT, Washington Post, the Boston Globe, WaPo, and many others.
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What, A Privilege?!?!
Privilege is a thing that everyone wants, yet no one wants to claim they have. Wanting privileges is understandable; it is a human thing to want the best one can get, but the denial of that privilege and the advantages afforded because of it does not mean they do not exist. What, A Privilege?!?!, workshop examines the conflation between the earned and the entitled, who we think deserves privileges, and the intersection of race, sexism, and classism.
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Tea and Couplets….
Kyla’s career began doing spoken word and it is still very near and dear to her heart. “Tea and Couplets,” is a hybrid performance of Kyla in her poetry element while infusing conversation about her creative process as a writer and an artist; based on the audience she will be able to provide feedback for blossoming writers.
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"Unmasking White Privilege with Empathetic Accountability” (KEYNOTE)
In this keynote inspired by her internationally acclaimed viral poetry, Kyla examines the concept of white privilege and its pervasive impact on our society. Utilizing her electrifying performance skills and razor sharp wit, this talk aims to foster a deeper understanding of how privilege operates and how it perpetuates systemic inequalities.
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“Why Don’t Black People Swim: Moving Away from Othering while Embracing Intersectionality” (KEYNOTE)
Kyla explores the concept of intersectionality and its significance in understanding and addressing the complex dynamics of oppression. Through an intersectional lens, we navigate the intricate web of social identities and systemic inequalities that shape our lived experiences. By dismantling silos and fostering inclusive dialogue, we can work towards a more equitable society that uplifts the most marginalized among us.
See Kyla Jenee Lacey in action.
The writer, poet, performer, spoken word, and visual artist behind “White Privilege"
Kyla Jenee Lacey is a poet, writer, blacktivist, and funny girl. She has bylines from The Root, BET.com, the Huffington Post, and currently writes for Karen Hunter’s “The Hub News.” Her poetry has garnered tens of millions of views and is used in college curriculum internationally. She has been featured by/on Grayson Perry’s Big America Road Trip, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the Tamron Hall Show, and even Laura Ingraham from Fox News was so kind enough to refer to her work as “anti-racist propaganda.” Her work has been shared by Buzzfeed, In the Now, Occupy Democrats, Harper’s Bazaar Singapore, Afropunk, and mentioned in national publications the NYT, WAPO, Boston Globe, the Atlantic, and several other national publications. Her work is a refreshing blend of analysis of the absurd, social commentary, the human condition, and acerbic wit. Kyla has performed a one woman show of poetry, storytelling, and comedy at over 300 colleges and universities in over 40 states. Her work became part of the national CRT debate, after a teacher was fired for sharing it with his class. She is a cat lady but loves dogs too.
Our speakers get attention.
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This Spoken-Word Poem About White Privilege Should Be Required ListeningWriter and spoken word artist Kyla Jenee Lacey shared a poem on her YouTube channel on May 31 that perfectly puts white privilege into perspective.
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What the Author of the Poem “White Privilege” Thinks of a Teacher Getting Fired for Showing It to His Class“I know that it was just a terrible excuse for their discomfort,” said Kyla Jenee Lacey.
