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5 Major Takeaways From Black Love Summit 2022
by Yasmine Jameelah
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November 18, 2022

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10 Minute Read

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5 Major Takeaways From Black Love Summit 2022

5 Major Takeaways From Black Love Summit 2022
Adrienne “Gammy” Banfield Norris, Melanie Fiona, Codie Elaine Oliver, Angel Moore, and Melissa Fredericks (Credit: Kai Byrd Photography)

The 5th Annual Black Love Summit was a success and truly a day to remember! We’re so grateful that we had an opportunity to connect in person with hundreds of Black Love supporters. Our intention with Black Love Summit 2022 was to connect with our community on a deeper level and bring you along on this journey of evolution and expansion with us. Following the announcement of “Black Love Doc” coming to an end, we wanted our community to know that despite the show ending, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what and who we are as a brand. We aren’t going anywhere, and neither is our support of you as you explore each and every facet of Black Love (self-love, wellness, dating, marriage, parenting, divorce, and the best one, community.) We wanted to meet our community where they are — and we did. It can be difficult to navigate this world feeling void of love on this search to find “the one”; we know that — and we’re here for you on that journey. 

At Black Love Summit, we made space for it all, and we went there with transparent discussions on marriage, divorce, parenting, therapy, balancing career and family, brotherhood, and much more. At Black Love Summit, you’re truly not just an attendee; you’re a person that’s looking for support and to be seen. And while we create safe spaces online with The Black Love + App and our original shows and podcasts, Summit is our time to go a little deeper with you in person. It was hard to choose just a few but wanted to share with you special moments that stood out to encourage you on your daily journey of exploring the 360 degrees of Black Love. 

When it Comes to Finding Love, You Cannot Avoid Pain        

We loved this reflection from actress Ashley Blaine Featherson Jenkins during the “How Do You Know” panel led by relationship expert Francesca Hogi. Why? Because when you’re dating, there will be plenty of times when you wonder, “What if this isn’t worth it?” Here’s something most people won’t tell you – you never know, and it might not be. You can give your all to someone and think this is “the relationship,” and it ends up not being what you thought, and that’s okay. Don’t allow past experiences to harder your heart and close you off to love. Remain open and remember what you deserve, a partner that sees you supports you and makes it clear that they want to commit to you and only you. 

5 Major Takeaways From Black Love Summit 2022
Francesca Hogi with Ashley Blaine Featherson & Darroll Jenkins (Credit: Kai Byrd Photography)

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Is Self-Love a Journey? Yes, but Avoid Partners That Exploit Your Lack of Self-Love               

Raise your hand if you’re tired of the narrative that until you reach this ultimate level of confidence and self-love, you’re undeserving of a partner. Here’s the real; self-love is an ongoing journey that does not end once you’ve said yes to love. This reflection from Jeannette Reyes, who was also part of the “How Do You Know” panel, was on time as she discussed single life, and the duality that can exist between the journey to loving yourself fully and being deserving of a partner who values you as your grow. You don’t have to arrive at this optimal place of self-love in order to be deserving of love, and your partner under no circumstances should your partner take advantage of your vulnerability in that manner. Your relationship should be a safe space for growth, love, and learning, not an environment for the exploitation of your weak areas. 

5 Major Takeaways From Black Love Summit 2022
Robert Burton & Jeanette “JR” Reyes (Credit: Kai Byrd Photography)

Brotherhood is Also Black Love

We set the intention at this year’s Black Love Summit that Black Love is many things. Brotherhood is one of them, and it looks different in various stages of life. As actors Algee Smith and Melvin Gregg sat with CEO of Confluential Films and Black Love Co-Creator Tommy Oliver, they shared how important it is to root for one another whether they’re competing for the same roles, navigating periods of growth, or trying to discern what true brotherhood is in Hollywood and how their bond as brothers has brought them closer in life and in business. 

5 Major Takeaways From Black Love Summit 2022
Algee Smith, Melvin Gregg and Tommy Oliver (Credit: Kai Byrd Photography)

Therapy is Important, but so is Self-Work      

The husband’s panel was not only hilarious but also filled with wisdom from husbands featuring Tommy Oliver, Bill Bellamy, Adrian Holmes, Chance Brown, and Kenny Burns. Brotherhood doesn’t mean that you’ll always agree and in this instance, there was a beautiful, humorous moment between actor Bill Bellamy and entertainer Kenny Burns, who had opposing views on therapy but have both been happily married for over 20 years! Bellamy is an advocate, while burns didn’t think it was necessary for his marriage. As the conversation went on, though, there was a moment where Burns and Oliver discussed the importance of the self-work that is still required even if you decide that therapy isn’t for you. Therapy or not, these husbands have committed to doing the self-work that is necessary to continue to have their partner choose them. That work is necessary whether you attend therapy on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis — or if you never set foot inside the four walls of a therapist’s office. Self-work isn’t optional, you should wake up every day consciously asking yourself what you can do to be a better person and partner. 

5 Major Takeaways From Black Love Summit 2022
Tommy Oliver with Bill Bellamy and Adrian Holmes (Credit: Kai Byrd Photography)

Don’t Expect Your Partner to Fulfill Needs You Can’t Articulate    

Come on, Wives’ Panel! The wives didn’t disappoint with their discussion either, and lifestyle influencer Melissa Fredericks left us with a WORD! As much as we’d love to think that our partners know us so well that they can read our minds, they can’t (I know it shocked us too.) “Often, we don’t know our needs enough to articulate them, but we expect our partners to fulfill our needs” as she reflected on her marriage to comedian KevOnStage. The road to a more fulfilling relationship with your partner is understanding what it is that you need, and then expressing that. It sounds minuscule, but in the grand scheme of relationships, if you can’t articulate your needs, you’ll always find your love cup on empty. Get to know you more, and then let your partner in on what you need so that you can thrive in life and love together. 

5 Major Takeaways From Black Love Summit 2022
Angel Moore with Melissa Fredericks (Credit: Kai Byrd Photography)

As we celebrate as a team internally and prepare for next year’s event, we hope these memorable moments from Summit leave you full until next time. Remember that Black Love is many things — community, partnership, entrepreneurship, brotherhood, sisterhood, family, healing, power, and it’s certainly — forever.

Stream Black Love Summit 2022 on the Black Love+ app!

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