Tell us what inspired the name of your brand “Rich Baby Born Rich”?

In 2017 I had my first baby. We call him “Chizzy”. Chizzy inspired me in a way I never felt before. I havent found the right words to express the magnitude of joy that pierce my spirit that year but I would imagine it to be similiar to the feeling that some women get after they have a baby. It’s magical! And so the first couple months after chizzy was born I began to feel more creative. Like I had always been into fashion but this time around my creative mind said you start a clothing brand for chizzy. Like for some reason I just wanted my son to rock his own clothes lol. So I created the logo. Then I said to my fiance (at the time) “Boo I need a name”. I knew I didn’t want it to be my sons’ name. I wanted something that was unique and had a message attached to it. And just a quick back story, a year prior my husband and I started a business and when we transitioned our focus to a different project the money we earned from our business we decided to give to chizzy when he was born just as a start me off type of unofficial bank account lol. Okay back to the name lol. So my husband and I started throwing out some names. And we thought about chizzy. And then we thought about how we really gifted him a couple hundred dollars when he was born. And then I think it was my husband who actually said “Rich Baby.. Rich Baby Baby R no “Rich Baby Born Rich”. And then the acronym RBBR was a given because Rich Baby Born Rich is a lot to say for a toddler in the beginning lol.

Your alias “Sauce” is so unique. What is the origin of this name and why do you prefer to be called “Sauce”?

Well, I grew up with a great-grandfather who was into nick-names. He nicknamed some if not all of his grandkids and great-grandkids at the time. The nick- name he chose for me was “Hotsauce”. It’s funny I never asked him why he named me that before his passing but the story I was told was that when I was born I came out really pale with red spots all over and so I was “Hotsauce” since birth lol. I think it was when I got to high school that my friends decided to drop the ” Hot” and just called me “Sauce ” lol. It was cute. I loved it so I went with it. Now my family would still call me hot sauce but whenever I would meet new people I would introduce myself as Sauce. So when I went to college people only knew me as Sauce. Even my pastor and some of my college instructors call me Sauce. I don’t know if my grandfather knew it at the time but the name fits me like a glove. I have a lot of love and just enough spice that I express daily once you really get to know me. And so Sauce is my preferred name:)

I read a statement of yours where you said that your childhood was short lived & that you often felt alone at times amongst your siblings. Can you dive into those childhood experiences for us?

When I think about what a typical childhood would look like I would describe it as fun, and parks, and laughter, and rainbows, and joy, and sleepovers, and family trips, and pillow fights, and carelessness, and vulnerable while being loved on unconditionally especially by your parents or whoever takes care of you. When I reflect back to my childhood, I wouldn’t use any of those nouns or adjectives. I grew up with an absent or I should say mostly absent father, and a mother who was addicted to drugs. My mother had 5 children of her own ( 2 with my father) and my father as far as I know has 3 other children other than me and 1 of my siblings. Of the 8 children combined I am the youngest. I wanna make sure I communicate clearly that while I do have some of those childhood experiences, they were far less than the pain, stress and uncertainty that came along with it. If you can imagine, living with a parent who is addicted to drugs can be a very toxic environment. I’m not sure how to best describe my mom’s parenting style but let’s just say she was militant but unreliable. Structured but chaotic.

Let’s go a little deeper. So my mom started using drugs early on in life and consequently she couldn’t keep a job, and most of our childhood we lived in public housing, shelters, or with family and friends. Because we moved frequently, I had to attend several schools. And because I attended several schools I didn’t really have any close childhood friends. I can remember as a child worrying about where we would move to next. Or if my mom would come home that night. Or what drama was about to pop off next. One time, we had gotten evicted from our apartment at the time and we had nowhere to go so we moved into a shelter. If I didn’t think we were poor before I was certain now.

That first night was awful. We had to sleep on a cot on a stage in some type of building that reminded me of a school. And we had to share a bathroom with strangers. And we couldn’t stay there all day. We had to get up and out every morning at a certain time, and we had to be back at the building by a certain time or we wouldn’t be allowed back in. During the day my mom was still dipping and dapping with the drugs so one day my sister and I went to her boyfriend’s house and his family welcomed us and said we could stay for as long as we needed to. I was thankful but still not happy. Afterall, that was my sister’s boyfriend, not mine. And my sister and I never had a close relationship to begin with so I really didn’t enjoy being there either way. One day, just as bold and brave as I could be, I told my sister I needed money to get on the bus to go and live with one of my aunts even before I asked my aunt if it was okay. I just knew she would say yes. She had to. I couldn’t take it anymore. My sister gave me the money and I went on my way. Alone. I don’t know if my sister checked in to see if I made it there safely. I hadn’t heard from my mother in days. My oldest brother and sister lived separately with their caregivers and to be honest I don’t even know if they knew where we were at the time. My relationship with the oldest siblings were non- existent. Once again I had to make adult-like decisions even though I was just no more than 13 years young.

Rich Baby Born Rich (RBBR) puts a lot of emphasis on having a “rich” mindset. I also admire how your brand promotes education. In your opinion, how does education influence the “rich” mindset?

I think it’s important to constantly educate yourself on whatever it is that you’re focused on. Like when I study “Rich ” people, outside of actively working on their business, the rest of their time on average is spent reading, writing, studying, or attending webinars, or conferences related to whatever they’re into. Like you don’t always know what you don’t know so you have to be aware and wise enough to make every opportunity a teachable moment. And if you’re having more moments or encounters where you’re not learning or being challenged to critically think, you should spend less time doing that and more time educating yourself on your craft. It’s really that simple.

What kind of morals and ideas do you instill in your son surrounding RBBR motto “Already Born Rich”?

I always pride myself on being Chizzys’ first teacher. I read a lot while I was pregnant with him. Before he started preschool he was potty trained, could sing the alphabet, and could recite numbers 1-10 in spanish. I make sure I read with him even when he’s not in school. I tell him I love him often. I encourage him to do things independently even though it may be challenging. Most importantly, I taught my baby how to pray. I make sure he says his prayer and his positive affirmation each day when we wake up. To me these teachings will guide him into developing a consistent state of mind that he believes in identifying that even now he has all the tools of being rich.

Black Entrepreneurship is on the rise more than ever now. As a people, we are taking charge to live on our own terms. As a black, female entrepreneur, who holds a degree in Nursing; what kind of advice would you give someone who does not possess higher education wanting to pursue their own business?

 I don’t necessarily believe that you need a degree to pursue your own business. I know some people who didn’t attend a university/college who are pursuing their own business successfully. However, like I mentioned before, I do believe you should always be learning. You should constantly be engaged in experiences that challenge you and that will help you elevate your business. You should travel, and meet new people who have resources that will guide you to the next level. As the phrase goes ” If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room”. Never stop learning. They don’t always teach you that in school!

Do you think obtaining a degree or higher education defines Black Excellence?

Not completely. I think it’s a part of it. I absolutely adore and admire well educated Black people who have obtained higher education. It definitely presents itself when they speak and how effectively they communicate. I still think that Black Excellence lives inside of every black person with or without a degree. Some people have not tapped into it yet.

Tell us about the meaningful work you have done within your community personally and/or through your brand “Rich Baby Born Rich”.

So far we have sponsored a back to school drive in our local community.

We have successfully held our own back to school drive where we gave away free school supplies to children in the community where I grew up.

Last month, we collaborated with a black owned organization and adopted a specific school to donate school supplies to.

Last year I started a #100BookChallenge where I encouraged parents to read 100 books to or with their child outside of school. 

Periodically, I’ll include free books by black authors with the purchase of any Rich Baby Born Rich product.

Describe what you feel is a perfect representation of a rich black family?

I think its normal for the perfect rich family to vary depending on who you’re asking. For me, it would include a educated husband & wife, child or children, who inspire and create change in what they do. A family who freely express love and is who committed to creating generational wealth all while looking fly.

Can we expect to see more of you and your family representing the beauty of being a rich, black family through RBBR clothing?

Absolutely! I have a lot of things in the making that I can’t wait to share with the world. I’m very much excited and enthusiastic about the new projects we’re working on. Stay tuned!