When you think of Soul food, you probably picture fried chicken, collard greens, Mac & cheese, and even sweet potato casserole. Whether you’re up north in NYC, out west in LA or even down south in Charleston, SC, if you order one of these dishes, there are flavors you just expect to experience. And that’s because many of these dishes have been passed down Black families for generations. Actually– for hundreds of years!!! What a lot of people don’t always realize is that these so-called “American classics” are rooted in West African traditions.

Continue reading How African Traditions Shaped American Food: 4 Foods with African Roots at Shades of Pinck.

Over the last year, America has really begun to dive deeper into its harsh reality of African American history. We’ve explored how decisions made hundreds of years ago still effect Black communities today. From redlining neighborhoods to marginalizing education, we’ve seen how decisions made by our fore-fathers affect where our nation stands today. Last summer, during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the conversation about historic figures + their monuments standing on government property, became a huge topic of conversation.

Continue reading Historic Columbia’s Groundbreaking Podcast Will Make You Rethink The Purpose of Historic Monuments at Shades of Pinck.

*Pictured on the porch of the Mann-Simons home during the re-opening in 2017*

One thing that I’m really looking forward to this year is becoming even more active with Historic Columbia through their young professional group, Palladium Society.

Last summer, as the social justice + civil rights protests erupted, I made a promise to myself to use my platform + my voice to share the stories of my community that our history books intentionally exclude.

Continue reading Palladium Society’s Newest Board Member // Historic Columbia at Shades of Pinck.