We had the good fortune of connecting with Kennedy Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kennedy, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind the success of my brand is authenticity. Being honest and vulnerable with what I know and what I don’t helps me to curate a genuine message for the families that follow the brand. I move with intention when it comes to every aspect of my organization, and I think that figuring out what is at the center of that intention — the what, the why, and the what for — is key, and it helps to connect with our youth and their families in a real way.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
For The Black Kid, Inc. is a nonprofit organization working to inform, empower, and free Black youth. We do this through teaching Black history, holistic wellness, entrepreneurship, innovation, and encouraging Black parents and their youth to circulate their dollars within their own communities.

What sets us apart from other organizations is that we decenter all forms of eurocentrism and white supremacy. We choose to center the stories, experiences, and culture of Black people so that we can connect with our youth and their families in a real and relatable way. In order to liberate Black youth, we have to first allow them to see themselves represented and we can’t do that while still upholding whiteness and all of its modes.

I am somewhat of a solopreneur, so the journey of developing and growing my business has not been an easy one. I am learning to delegate things, to develop a team of people who believe in my vision so that we can expand our reach. I think my experiences as a Black woman have taught me to take on everything, and I’m actively working to undo that so I can be more effective.

To sum this up, I want people to know that I am also working toward liberation. I am not proposing that I have already achieved this goal of complete liberation. I want people to know that at For The Black Kid, Inc. we are all on the journey together, working through the kinks together, and trying to attain true freedom together.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Crystal Perkins, Founder and CEO of God & Goals, allowed me to have a close look at her life as a CEO and I was able to learn so much from working on her team. Lastly, education is my inspiration. So every teacher, professor, and Black author that has shared their perspective with me, is part of the reason I have gotten to this point.

Website: https://www.fortheblackkid.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortheblackkidinc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortheblackkid

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClDuCqtVFq1z-qnJ6yl_Ovw

Other: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Ffortheblackkid&e=ATOzDObbcgQ_4AxusX40gz-aOV07YdnxNeii1wqeyuYuB5tCsYnW5t3LExdEpXbghUihdUpHaxLuQU4XH8SYnUK0SYgYdMncsy2rLA&s=1

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