OUR KINGS was born from grief, fear, and love—a mother’s love, and a community’s need.

In 2014, when Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, everything shifted for me. I was already a mother to young Black boys, but that moment forced a painful truth into focus: the world may not see my sons the way I do. To me, they were innocent, brilliant, funny, full of light. But outside our home, they might be seen as threats.

As more names filled the headlines—Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile—my sons began to notice too. Still in their early years, they asked questions I couldn’t ignore. They were scared. Not just for the world around them, but for the men they loved: their father, uncles, grandfathers. They even began to worry about their own safety.

I knew then that I couldn’t protect them from everything—but I could create a space where they were safe to be children. Where they could play, laugh, grow, and be surrounded by other Black boys who shared their joy and their struggles. A space where they could be uplifted—not feared. Celebrated—not judged.

That’s when I started a local meetup group—just something small at first. But word spread, and it quickly became something more. Mothers of all races began to show up—many raising Black boys through adoption, blended families, or as single parents. They came with love in their hearts and fear in their eyes. They were raising Kings too and needed guidance, community, and a place to ask hard questions.

From this, QUEENS OF KINGS was born.

It was a space for the boys—but just as much for the mothers. A space where we could talk openly, cry freely, share resources, and stand together. We were no longer isolated. We were a village.

For years, we built that village. We hosted playdates, field trips, and meetups that let our boys be themselves. And then came 2020.

The murder of George Floyd wasn’t just another headline—it was a breaking point. Like many others, I marched. I protested. But I also knew it wasn’t enough. My younger brother had just become a father to a beautiful Black son, and we looked at each other and said: We have to build something bigger.

In 2021, we officially became a nonprofit and changed our name to OUR KINGS.

And that name means everything to us.

KINGS stands for Kind, Intelligent, Noble, Gifted Sons of Kings and Queens. That is who our boys are, and we will never let the world forget it.

Today, OUR KINGS offers educational programs, mentorship, cultural enrichment, parent workshops, field trips, community events, and safe spaces to grow. Our mission is to nurture the brilliance of Black boys and equip the mothers, fathers, and caregivers raising them.

We are not just protecting their childhoods—we are shaping their futures.
We are not just a nonprofit—we are a movement.
A family. A force. A legacy.