Is it just me, or have you noticed it too?

Our culture seems to pride itself on teaching kids to hold it all together.

We push them to excel in school, be leaders in the classroom, and compete on the field. We teach them to be strong, to be tough, to never fold.

But behind all that excellence, many of our children are quietly unraveling.

They’re carrying the cost of achievement, expectations, and visibility without the emotional safety of healthy attachment and true belonging.

We’re talking about:

• Rising rates of anxiety and depression in children who seem “high performing”
• Burnout hitting as early as age 8
• Perfectionism masking deep shame
• Disconnected family rhythms in the name of “success”
• A distorted sense of self-worth built on applause, not inner truth

And yet, too often, our parenting conversations center on compliance, behavior, and outcomes—not connection, identity, or wholeness.

We Can’t Afford to Parent Like the Culture Does

Here’s the truth:
Black parents cannot afford to parent according to dominant culture.
Because dominant culture was never built to meet our children’s needs—or ours.

It was built to monitor them. Shame them. Shrink them.
To reward obedience, not emotional intelligence.
To prioritize performance, not power.

That’s why we have to parent by intention.

Because the stakes are higher.
Because the world will try to shape our children before they ever understand themselves.

Why This Matters to Me

Caring about kids is in my blood.

I’m the daughter of a public school educator and a child psychologist. I grew up understanding how systems and stories shape what kids believe about themselves—at home, at school, and in the world.

And I took that understanding into my work as a media executive.
But when I became a mother, something shifted. I didn’t want to just work in media. I wanted to reimagine it.

That’s why I founded HueGo—a children’s media company that goes beyond representation to consider what Black children actually need from the stories they’re raised on. Because beneath every show, book, or character is a set of values—and for too long they’ve been quietly shaped by the norms of white supremacy.

The 7 Principles That Guide Everything We Do

To rewrite that foundation, we had to start with new principles. I call them The HueGo Way. When we return to these truths, we raise children who feel safe, powerful, and free:

✨ Inner Power – Kids who trust their own voice don’t need to chase outside approval.
🗣️ Authentic Expression – When we make honesty safe, our kids don’t have to hide to be loved.
👂 Relational Leadership – Kids follow connection, not control.
❤️‍🩹 Graceful Consequences – Accountability without shame creates wisdom, not fear.
🌟 Inherent Worth – Your child is already enough—before the grades, awards, or perfect behavior.
🙂 Joyful Growth – Life is more than milestones. It’s in the messy, magical process of becoming.
🌀 Reflective Empowerment – Giving kids back their time builds emotional regulation and a strong mindset

These are the 7 principles every Black parent deserves to know—not because we’re getting it wrong, but because the world around us is.

Want a Free Preview?

My upcoming book will explore these principles in depth. Until then, I’ve put together a free preview of The HueGo Way that includes a simple breakdown of each principle plus a reflection checklist to keep you aligned with the parent you want to be—even on the hard days.