01/27/2025
It's
Why Jackson, Mississippi
Everywhere I go in the world, people ask me, "Why Jackson, Mississippi?" And honestly, the answer is simple: there’s something about this place. Something in the soil, in the culture, in the way it embraces you and challenges you all at once. Living here unlocked something in me—something deep in my heart and soul. Jackson made me unapologetically me.
I was born in Florence, South Carolina. And if you know South Carolina and Mississippi, you know they’re like cousins. We share so much history—the hard truths of slavery, racism, and laws that tried to break us. But we also share resilience. We share food, music, and a love for community that’s unmatched.
South Carolina gave me my foundation. Because my mom sings & my dad was a radio announcer, I fell in love with gospel, bluegrass, and soul. But Mississippi? Mississippi amplified all of that. It’s the home of the blues, the birthplace of so much of the music that’s shaped the world. There’s something about the sound of this place—it’s raw, it’s real, it’s healing.
When I came to Jackson for a Jazz scholarship at Jackson State University, it felt like more than just going to school. It felt like stepping into a city that was ready to grow with me. My parents always taught me to love people. My mom’s travels to Africa, my dad’s work across the world—they made sure I knew it’s possible to love where you’re from and love the people who look like you while still loving and learning from everyone else.
Traveling the world—from Europe, Japan, Indonesia , Africa to Nicaragua—taught me a lot. But Jackson reminds me every day that it’s okay to root yourself in your community and still embrace the whole world. It’s okay to love your people and still be open to others.
So yeah, there’s something special here—something in the city that makes you better, that keeps you striving .So, I decided to open 1 of my coffeeshops there. To everyone here, to everyone around the world who’s helped me grow—thank you.
Now...it’s time to shine.
*This was an exercise in writing small stories about places/things that have impacted my life.
