Finances haven’t always come easy to me. Growing up, I learned basic money management skills from my mom, like balancing a checkbook and comparing grocery prices. However, we didn’t have the financial means for extravagant vacations, new clothes every year, or a bigger home like my friends from private school. I was privileged to have grandparents who paid for my private schooling, but I grew up in predominantly white spaces. It wasn’t until I transferred to public high school that I began to explore my Black identity and community.

My interest in my ancestry has always been strong, and I’ve been fortunate to experience both Black American and African cultures through my partner from Nigeria, with whom I’ve been for 15 years. Raising two children in a blended cultural environment has shown me the profound benefits of understanding and integrating both cultures for the healing and wealth-building of Black people.

As I delved into the history of Black Americans and the systemic barriers preventing our financial success, I became aware of similar exploitations in Africa due to colonization. This realization compelled me to take action. Many in the Black community possess ancestral gifts and skills from lived experiences that are often repressed by societal structures and white supremacy, leading to imposter syndrome.