Uppity: The Intellectual Playground

Welcome to Uppity: The Intellectual Playground!

This edition will start, as always with a surprise performance and then we’ll launch into the Trial of Forgiveness, the fall of Diddy and the rise of the Hip-Hop MBA.

The Trial of Forgiveness

In March 2024 the Guardian revealed that the racist Frank Hester, who happens to be the largest ever donor to the Conservative Party, said that looking at Diane Abbott makes him “want to hate all Black women” and that Diane Abbott “should be shot”. In response to this Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary and Equalities Minister, called for him to be “forgiven”. Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities also called for Hester to be shown “Christian forgiveness”. The day after the white supremacist terrorist Dylan Roof murdered nine Black people in a church in South Carolina the families were globally praised for instantly forgiving him.

Forgiveness is a divine virtue. But is forgiving racists a virtue ethnic minority can afford? Does doing so help or hinder the lives of people of colour? Join us for The Trial of Forgiveness.

The line-up of participants will be announced shortly, but the jury will be, as always: you, the audience.

Diddy: The fall of the King of Black Capitalism, Consumerism & Culture

A panel of music industry veterans will lead us in a discussion on the life, career and impact of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and what his ongoing fall from grace means for Black culture, consumerism and capitalism. The line-up of participants will be announced shortly.

The Launch of The Hip-Hop MBA

Uppity founder, Nels Abbey, new book The Hip-Hop MBA was released on the 4th of April. For our last hour at this month’s Uppity, we will have a mini-launch party. Copies of the book will be available.

About Uppity:

Part town hall, part variety show, yet ruggedly intellectual, Uppity is a monthly interactive convening of writers, artists, thinkers, politicians, comedians, professionals and, most importantly: you - for an irreverent exploration of arts, culture and politics. All deep fried in unapologetic highbrow Blackness.

Designed to challenge perception and champion free speech in a unique, warm and in places comedic and taboo-free manner, Uppity will make us all laugh, learn and come together to better understand each other and the world around us.

Uppity™ is founded by the writer, broadcaster, satirist and former banker, Nels Abbey (author of Think Like A White Man).

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @UppityHQ

Event Venue

Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, United Kingdom