My 2023 Black History Month Collaboration

In celebration of Black History Month in 2023, I had the honor of collaborating with Famous Footwear on a special creative project.

They sent me a pair of classic platform Chuck Taylor sneakers — a blank canvas of white — and invited me to transform them through my art.

I chose to paint the portrait of a Black woman across the shoe, her presence bold yet contemplative. On the heel, I wrote the words “My Sister’s Keeper.” Along with phrase “I’ve got royalty inside my DNA.”

The piece was my tribute to the quiet yet powerful bond between Black women.

There is an unspoken understanding that exists between us — a community we are born into and a sisterhood many of us choose, again and again, often without saying a word. A shared language of care, protection, humor, and resilience.

With this design, I wanted to honor that connection.

I also wanted the shoes to carry a deeper reminder: that even in a world that often tries to trample our spirits, diminish our brilliance, or overlook our contributions, there is royalty within us.

Always.

Strength. Beauty. Legacy. Resilience.

Those qualities live in our DNA.

This collaboration allowed me to celebrate Black womanhood in a medium that quite literally walks through the world.

And that felt meaningful.

Thank you for being here to witness the journey.