We were lucky to catch up with Brittany Sessions recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with important influences in our lives. Is there a historical figure you look up to?

Throughout my life, I have learned about many historical figures and delved into their lives and contributions to society. Of all the people I have studied. Dr. Carter G. Woodson has to be the person I look up to the most because I feel like our desires are similarly aligned. Dr. Woodson had a deep desire to not only study Black history, but he also sought to share Black history with the world. He dedicated most of his life to his passion and is known as the “father of Black history”. He accomplished so much during a time when creating and dessiminating information was not as easy as it is now. I often wonder what all he may have been able to accomplish had he had access to the internet. I visited his home a few years ago after it opened by the National Park Service in Washington, DC and purchased a large poster of him that I keep framed in my office. When things feel overwhelming, and I feel like stopping, I look at that photo and think “if Dr, Woodson could do all that he did in the time that he did it, I can do it too” and that gives me strength to continue on.

Brittany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Brittany, I am a historian, and the creator of Black History Rocks. My love for Black history began as a child and throughout my life, I encountered so many people who helped to strengthen my love by introducing me to new things. This made my passion grow as I’ve gotten older. In college, I obtained my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in African American Studies. I realized early on that there was a substantial lack of information that is shared about Black history in particular, especially in public schools. And because of that lack, there are so many people who grow up not learning about Black history. These people navigate the world not realizing how much Black history there is out here. I created Black History Rocks to fill that void.

One day, I was complaining to my Mom that I couldn’t find a Black history related space that shared all of the things I was interested in. In that conversation, she said “perhaps you cannot find it because you’re supposed to create it” and from there, I began laying the foundational work that has evolved into Black History Rocks. Black History Rocks is where I share with the world many of important people, places and events, that have happened and are currently happening in regards to Black history. I not only share important figures, and past/current events but, I also share the many historical sites that are significant to Black history that many people may not know about because they have not been exposed to them. I recently completed my first Black history activity booklet and I am working on creating subsequent volumes. I am looking to continue sharing information via my social media platforms, and website.

I am most proud of my ability to create content that provides people with information about Black history that they may have not known about prior to visiting my social media pages, website, etc.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I put together the initial capital I needed to start my business by working. There have been times when I have been gifted things, but mostly, everything that I have acquired is because I worked a job and saved up to get it. I would make a list of the things that I needed and how much it costs then I would purchase them bit by bit until I acquired everything that I needed. For example, I purchased the domain for Black History Rocks, the right theme for the type of website I wanted, equipment for social media content, etc. It may take a longer time to acquire things, but you have to have patience, and with a clear plan of what is needed, you will soon look up and have everything you need.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Everything is not going to come quickly. That is the biggest thing I had to unlearn. Social media will have you fooled, thinking that people create businesses and content and instantly find success when that is far from the truth. When I first began, I didn’t realize how much time it would take, especially when you are funding things yourself and have to save up to get certain tasks completed. I have learned that it really takes patience, consistency, and dedication to reach your individual goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blackhistoryrocks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackhistoryrocks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackhistoryrocks?ref=hl
• Other: To purchase my activity booklet: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZLMF6BJ

Image Credits
Jamera Johnson, @fac3beauty – Instagram