When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.My first teacher showed up as a classmate named Pierre at Kearny Mesa High School in San Diego, California. He challenged me in ways I didn’t understand at the time—like questioning why I ate pork on my pepperoni pizza—and he dropped little nuggets of wisdom my mind wasn’t ready to hold yet.
Then came the golden age of Hip-Hop in the 1990s. I was deeply impacted by the conscious rap community—especially the song “Self Destruction.” I remember being in a trance listening to those lyrics because they touched my soul. I loved how those artists united to help stop violence in our communities. Hip-Hop helped prepare me to expand my consciousness.
From there, I was guided to the teachings of a Master teacher who forever changed how I see myself. I stopped viewing myself through society’s lens. I understood that the melanin in my skin and the kingly texture of my hair were not curses—they were blessings.
Over time, I encountered other Master teachers who helped me realize something even deeper: our essence is spiritual, and our soul is who we truly are.Those experiences led me to a profound truth: I am a spiritual being having a beautifully Black experience. I move through this world as a Black woman, but my essence is so much more.
That awakening shaped me into a confident woman who knows how to navigate this world—and it also gave me purpose. The same way I needed to be uplifted, I know others in our community need that reminder too.
That’s why I created SoulSeed Apparel: soul-inspired streetwear rooted in Black excellence, designed to elevate the self-image of melaninated people.
I’m also a children’s book author. I wrote The Brown Unicorn to speak life into our babies—especially the ones navigating colorism, representation, and self-esteem—so they grow up knowing their beauty, worth, and magic were never up for debate.
This is SoulSeed Apparel.