If I Ruled the World: Amy DuBois Barnett in Conversation with Jacque Reid

Charis and the Auburn Avenue Research Library welcome Amy DuBois Barnettin conversation with Jacque Reid for a celebration of , afast-paced, juicy debut novel that peeks behind the curtain at the cutthroat world of hip-hop music and the glamorous magazine scene in the late 1990s.

It's 1999, and Nikki Rose is the only Black editor on the staff of a prestigious fashion magazine she once thought would be her ticket to becoming a respected editor in chief. But after being told one too many times by her boss that “Black girls don’t sell magazines,” she quits to take over Sugar, a struggling hip hop music and lifestyle magazine with untapped potential.
Thrown into an entirely new world of wealth, decadence, and debauchery, Nikki has just six months to save Sugar—and her own dreams. As she pulls all-nighters at the office and parties with New York City’s most influential bad boys, Nikki must prove she has what it takes to lead. But her most dangerous challenge is evading Alonzo Griffin, her very married, very powerful ex-lover and former boss, who is determined to destroy both her and Sugar. Along the way, Nikki leans on a circle of loyal friends and navigates unexpected romances that force her to reckon with what—and who—she truly wants.
If I Ruled the World is a smart, utterly immersive journey through one of the most dynamic eras in pop culture history—a story of ambition, friendship, love, and finding your own voice.

About the author

An award-winning media executive and author, Amy DuBois Barnett made history as the first Black woman to helm a major mainstream magazine in the US, as editor in chief of Teen People. She also served as editor in chief of Ebony and Honey, and was the deputy editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar. She has held senior leadership roles at Paramount, Hearst, Disney, Time Inc., and several independently owned media brands. Barnett has a BA from Brown University and an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. She resides in Los Angeles. is her debut novel.

About the conversation partner

Jacque Reid is an Emmy award-winning journalist, and so much more… she’s a force of inspiration, empowerment, and change. Jacque has become a trusted voice in media, captivating audiences on NBC, CNN, BET, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and beyond. Currently, Jacque is the former Executive Director of ARB Media and is the founder and CEO of Vegan Sexy Cool, and creator and host of The Jacque Reid Experience.
ARB Media is a faith-based media company that takes on film, television, podcasts, special events, and a variety of other projects. As Executive Director, Jacque has spearheaded the creation of a pilot for a faith-based docu-series; an exciting new issue-focused podcast; a multimedia collab with Angela Yee & IHeart Radio; an innovative gospel concert featuring Yolanda Adams; a social media campaign that generated 40K+ new followers; and much more.

About the venue:
Masks are encouraged but not required.
AARL has a free parking lot accessible via Courtland street. Please park and enter the library to get a guest pass for your dashboard before having a seat in the auditorium.

The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Charis Circle's mission is to foster sustainable feminist communities, work for social justice, and encourage the expression of diverse and marginalized voices. Donate via our website: www.chariscircle.org/donate.

Please contact us at [email protected] or 404-524-0304 if you would like ASL interpretation at this event.

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