About Pepper
Discover the approach shaping trust, insight, and leadership.
Who I Am
My Roots: Persephone → Pepper Living Briefly in Segregation
I was born Persephone — named after my mother’s college roommate, who carried both the Greek mythology name and the nickname, Pepper. My mother gifted me both:
- with a name that carries history, myth, and power
- and a name that helped me walk through the world with ease
“Pepper” became my way of keeping my uniqueness and moving through spaces that weren’t built for my name — or for me.
Chicago is my birthplace, and I have lived here most of my life. Our family moved from Chicago to Albany, Georgia, after my father accepted a professorship of music at Albany State University. Living in the segregated South for four ½ years as a young child, where whites only signs were ubiquitous, I learned early what many Black Americans learn:
- That identity and value are often seen through someone else’s lens.
The southern experience, especially, left an indelible mark on my heart, and it prepared me to see and decode how culture, perception of one’s value, and power shape opportunity.
Both experiences taught me to advocate for truths that get ignored.
What I Believe
And above all — When people feel seen, trust becomes possible — and everything changes.
What I See Others Miss
Too often, industries view Black communities through a deficit lens —
assuming challenges, or charity.
But what I see — again and again — is:
RIIC™ is how Black communities close the gaps others never see.
These traits don’t just sustain our communities —
they shape marketplace direction and cultural reach.
Where most people see challenge,
I see possibility — and I see cultural leadership.
Three Books That Shaped How Black America is Understood
Pepper’s three books span more than two decades of cultural insight, truth-telling and trust building.
The Insights That Inspired This Book
I wrote Let Me Explain Black, Again because for more than a decade, after every research study, keynote, or Black Insights workshop, someone has come up to me and said the same four words: “Pepper, I didn’t know.”
Why explain Black… again?
Because “I didn’t know” is not just a gap in information — it’s a gap in trust. Too many leaders assume that electing a Black president, following Black celebrities, or seeing affluent Black families signals a post-racial America. It doesn’t. These surface indicators create a false sense of understanding that fuels blind spots, misreads, and costly mistakes.
Others ask, “Why focus on Black Americans? They speak English, don’t they? What about other minorities?”
This book answers those questions with clarity, context, and truth — showing why Black experiences are distinct, why they shape America’s cultural center of gravity, and why seeing Black people accurately and fully is essential to building trust with any audience.
Let Me Explain Black, Again invites leaders to let go of assumptions, confront what they were never taught, and finally see the humanity, history, and cultural influence that too often go unnoticed or misunderstood.
Navigating Cultural Shifts, Blind Spots & the Business of Trust
Pepper reveals how the three major disruptors—Trump, COVID-19, George Floyd, and now the dismantling of DEI—have reshaped how audiences see themselves and how they expect brands to show up. Through the lens of trust, she helps leaders understand why traditional approaches no longer work in an era defined by misinformation, fear, and cultural distortion.
As a Cultural Insights Strategist and Trust Steward, Pepper names the blind spots that prevent businesses from “getting it right” with their Black customers and outlines the seven recurring misreads that quietly erode trust, credibility, and impact. She introduces the five segments of cultural shapeshifters within the Black community—groups who influence, inspire, and redefine norms far beyond their numbers—and shows how their values can guide more authentic, human-centered strategies.
Across every insight, Pepper reframes the work as a Trust Business:
When leaders see people clearly, lead with lived experience, and honor Black humanity, they build the kind of trust that attracts broader audiences, deepens loyalty, and strengthens their long-term brand integrity.
Awards & Accolades
Trusted Leadership, Recognized Across the Industry
Trust builds over time.