Hud, Vice, SB, Chance, Code FI, Kenny Dangerous, Rhymefest, Twista, Da Brat, Mary J, Ms. Chaka Khan and Tyla were all special guest during our grand opening. I had so much fun and love. It didn't seem like work. We had every seat occupied. All 2000 seats were filled. I also want to give a shout out to K-Thunder for helping us book a few of our celebrity guest. K-Thunder knows everybody in the industry. Please be sure to check out my interview with her.
Love Bug: You look beautiful on the cover of Good Morning Magazine. What inspired you to start your own organization at 23? How old are you now, if you don't mind? Do you ever get questioned about your name?
K-Thunder: Thank you! I really like the cover. My mama, Professor Fatimah Abdullah, also known as Red-Thunder, is very well known in the hip hop world. She is my biggest supporter and my best inspiration. My mom is a distinguished author, poet and my mentor. She's a professor at Howard University. My mom always challenged me to change the things that I did not like. She is the ultimate definition of girl power. I am extremely grateful to have a mom who has poured a lot of love, light and fight into me. I also want to give a sweet juicy shout out to my aunt Miah. She has her own media company. Like my mom, she knows a lot of cool celebrities. I have interned for her and my mom over the years. I do not mind sharing my age. I am 28 now. Yes, people do ask me about my name. My mom changed our last names on purpose. My full name is Khadija Abdullah. I kind of borrowed "Thunder" from my mom. People in the industry address me as K-Thunder because that's the name that is branded and defined by me. I always get advice on everything surrounding my life from my mom and aunt. They're like my favorite people.
Love Bug: Wow! Yes, I know your aunt Miah of Miah Saucy Media. Your entire family is connected to the music industry. Miah was one of the very first people I interviewed with when I launched The Love Bug Series. Miah's interview totally helped me. I know your cousin BJ too! Mr. BJ Talent Agency has partnered with us to screen all of the folks that want to intern and work with us. All of our actors, writers, and our production crew go through BJ Talent Agency. Can you tell me more about your organization and all of the chapters that you have at 28? Gone girl!
K-Thunder: (smiling) You know my auntie Miah and Cousin BJ and didn't even say one word (lol). I was always trained by my parents to be passionate about the work or career path I wanted to partake in. I graduated at 16 and entered my first college. I got my first job fresh out of college at 20. To ensure my skills were marketable I picked a profession I loved. I got my bachelor's in mathematics. I was a math teacher for a year and didn't really like the structure of education, so I went back for my bachelor's in nonprofit management. I loved it. I interned for a few big organizations. I minored in accounting. I'm currently working on finishing up my third degree. I am getting my masters in nonprofit management. I firmly
love math, young people, and all things related to business. I gained a lot of my experience working for other nonprofit organizations. I decided to make that big jump and started my own organization after I graduated with my second degree in nonprofit management. Brown Skin Girl Power, Inc., consist of young girls from the ages of 12-21. We help each other build wealth. That was my main objective when I got the idea. I wanted to raise the wealth gap and see us all winning. We eagerly build up each other and empower all of our communities by mentoring young boys and girls. We attend funerals and show up like soldiers to support the unsupported whenever and wherever we are needed. We have quite a few girls who have started their own businesses. We support each other in all areas of family needs. I wanted to start this organization to do just that. These girls are so dedicated. They graduate from high school and go to college with sisterhood support that should be in movies. We show up for each other in a dangerously great way. Some of our sisters have graduated from college and started their own chapters. We currently have 13 chapters in 11 states. We have chapters in Chicago (2), New York, Atlanta, Memphis, Baltimore, Virginia, St. Louis Missouri, California (2), Florida, Texas and Washington DC. There was a thirst and need. I talked to friends, family, neighborhoods, schools and various communities to get the Brown Skin Girls incorporated and they came ready to serve and eat.
Love Bug: Khadija, are you like a child prodigy? You graduated at 16 from high school and graduated from college at 20. Whew. I am so proud of you. Keep up the exceptional work. Those young women are learning richness and self-worth from you.
K-Thunder: Aww, thank you! No, I'm no child prodigy. I was a different kid. I was very focused in all my academics and mature about what I wanted. When you have a mom like Red-Thunder, and an auntie like Miah plus an awesome father and family, you can't help but to continue to carry on that black excellence. I am blessed and highly favored. I know I am. The blacknificence that's on me is the same spirit I have given to all my Brown Skin Girls with power. It's like having a bunch of sisters that I truly love and want the best for. We have high standards, and we live by that code of standards.
Love-Bug: I want to be an older honorary member. Am I too old? I'm so inspired. Thanks K-Thunder for your time and inspiration. I wish you all the best. You are always welcome to come join us over here at The Love-Bug Series.
K-Thunder: Ha, ha! Sure, you can be an honorary member. I am honored to do that for you. You have taking something special and made it Black WallStreet for our people. I am proud of you too. Thanks for the opportunity to connect and network. I appreciate you for having us as your guests. You showed us so much love.